At least 33 suspected illegal miners are feared dead while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State following a suspected disease outbreak.
The incident occurred after the suspects were arrested during an operation conducted by the NSCDC against illegal mining activities in the state. The deaths were reportedly discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, said the agency carried out a “burst operation” between September 15 and 16, leading to the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
According to him, several of the detainees were later found dead.
He said, “However, in the early hours of 17th September, 2026, scores of the detained suspects were found dead, following a suspected outbreak of disease.”
Aniviye added that the bodies had been taken to the General Hospital, Minna, for examination to determine the actual cause of death.
He said, “The corpses of the deceased suspects have since been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.”
A source at the hospital reportedly put the number of fatalities at 33 and suspected diphtheria as the possible cause. However, the NSCDC has not officially confirmed the figure or the specific disease responsible for the deaths.
The development reportedly sparked protests in M.I. Wushishi and Mekunkle, involving residents believed to be relatives of some of the detainees.
The NSCDC commandant appealed to the affected families and members of the public to remain calm, while assuring that the corps was working with other security agencies to manage the situation.
