37 Niger Miners Tragedy: Blood, ‘foam’ in their mouths, burns on body – Governor

Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has cautioned against drawing conclusions on the cause of the deaths of 37 miners, adding that there was blood, “foam’ (froth) in their mouths, which could be poisoning or suffocation.

He added that “there were burns on the bodies of some. We really don’t know what happened but investigation will unravel the truth.”

Meanwhile, residents of Minna, Niger state capital, yesterday, took to the streets rioting in protest against the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, in the state.

The youths angered by the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners reportedly took to the streets and barricaded major roads, while security operatives allegedly deployed tear gas to disperse the protesters. Reports also emerged of the alleged use of live ammunition during the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, a human rights organisation, Global Rights, has  demanded a probe into the alleged use of live ammunition by security forces to quell the riot in Minna.

Govt imposes curfew

The unrest prompted Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to impose a 24-hour curfew in parts of Minna, effective immediately after Friday’s Jumat prayers. Meanwhile, Governor Bago cautioned against drawing conclusions on the cause of the deaths, saying the actual cause had yet to be established.

The governor said possible causes being investigated included suffocation arising from overcrowding in the detention cell and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining. According to him, “We just woke up to the news of the death, we don’t know what happened. Some of the victims were found with foam or blood in their mouths which could be poisoning or suffocation. We are not sure. Samples were taken from some of them before they were buried. There were burns on the bodies of some. We really don’t know what happened but investigation will unravel the truth”.

He disclosed that forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to establish the scientific cause of the deaths. He lamented that illegal mining activities were taking a toll on the children in the state who preferred illegal mining than going to school or acquiring skills. He has however ordered the suspension of all mining activities in the state.

Bago also said committees constituted by the NSCDC, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services were investigating the incident, alongside the committee set up by the state government.

He subsequently announced the closure of the illegal mining site in the M.I. Wushishi area, saying mining activities there had been conducted without appropriate technology and safety equipment.

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunju Disu has also described the incident as unfortunate assuring that the probe will be transparent and the government will ensure that the truth is unravelled.

Frowning at the sudden burial of the deceased, a public analyst, Dickson Iroegbu, speaking on television blamed the incident on negligence on the side of the government. He argued that the government should have been more transparent instead of the rush to bury the deceased.

Tinubu orders probe

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a probe into the incident assuring Nigerians that no official found culpable in the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners will be shielded from justice.

President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said, “While the Federal Government would continue to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities across the country, enforcement operations must be conducted strictly within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person in custody.

“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody. Government will not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care.

“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, such an officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability.”

President Tinubu directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, transparent and unhindered, covering the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the number of persons held in the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.

“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution”, he said.

He directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with all relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interferes with the process or attempts to frustrate the establishment of the truth. President Tinubu extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the tragedy, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence. “We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” he said.

Minister suspends NSCDC Commandant

However, Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the alleged deaths of the suspected illegal miners in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the state capital.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Publicity,  Alao Babatunde. Announcing the suspension, Tunji-Ojo described the incident as unfortunate, saying: “it is an unfortunate incident, however, a full scale investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended. We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this.”

The minister urged members of the public to maintain calm and remain law-abiding to allow for a transparent investigation process, while also commiserating with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State and the families and relatives of the deceased.

The tragedy

Recall that the NSCDC had reported that on September 15 and 16, 2026, it carried out a “burst operation” in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village, areas known for small-scale gold mining activities, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining.

Unverified reports alleged that about 65 suspects arrested during the operation were crammed into the paramilitary agency’s facility, where 37 of them were found dead in the early hours of Thursday, September 17. The NSCDC had described the deaths as resulting from a “suspected outbreak of disease.”

Dele Alake Mourns

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, Friday, also mourned the death of the miners while commending the conduct of the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago for quickly calming the situation. He said: “The loss of any life is a deeply painful occurrence, and a tragedy of this magnitude affects us all. I commend Governor Bago’s swift administrative response in declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to uncover the full circumstances of this unfortunate incident.

“Given the allegation that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining, I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter. The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident.

ADC demands probe

Also reacting, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, demanded independent autopsies, disclosure of the victims’ identities and detention records, compensation for their families and prosecution of officials found responsible.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the deaths had raised grave questions about the treatment of poor Nigerians in government custody.

“Thirty-seven Nigerians entered government custody alive. Their families are now being asked to receive their bodies. This is an indictment on this government about the value of the average Nigerian life,” the party said. The ADC said neither poverty nor unemployment could justify the loss of life in custody, insisting that allegations against the victims could not erase their fundamental rights.

“We must be clear: poverty is not a capital offence. Unemployment is not a death sentence. No accusation, whatever the case, gives any government institution the right to return citizens to their families in body bags.

“The poor are arrested for digging to survive, while the powerful men who finance illegal mining, sponsor insecurity and cart away Nigeria’s mineral wealth remain beyond the reach of the law. The Tinubu administration has made honest work scarce, survival expensive and insecurity profitable,” it said. President Tinubu must decide whether Nigeria’s security institutions exist to protect citizens or punish them for being poor. Nigerians need jobs, security and justice, not an economy that impoverishes them and institutions that treat their lives as disposable,” the party added.

Atiku demands independent probe

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the deaths, with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, calling for an “independent, thorough and transparent investigation” into the incident.

Atiku commended the Federal Government for suspending the Niger State NSCDC commandant, but said the suspension should only be the beginning of efforts to establish what led to the deaths and ensure accountability.

“The investigation must be independent, thorough and transparent, and its findings must be made public,” Atiku said.

He added that anyone found responsible through “action, abuse or negligence” should be held accountable.

“The families of the deceased deserve more than condolences. They deserve the truth. They deserve justice. And Nigerians deserve the assurance that custody by the state will never become a death sentence,” he said.

Also reacting, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured that the Federal Government would not shield anyone found culpable after the investigation.

Idris, who expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State, said the circumstances surrounding the deaths required a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation.

“There will be no attempt to shield anyone found culpable. At the same time, we mustn’t prejudge the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

According to him, the government’s responsibility was to establish the facts and ensure that justice was served.

Global Rights condemns alleged use of live ammunition on protesters

Human rights organisation, Global Rights, subsequently condemned the reported use of live ammunition by security forces during the protests. The organisation said security agencies had a responsibility to maintain public order, but stressed that such responsibility must be exercised lawfully and proportionately, with full respect for the right to life and peaceful assembly.

“We remind all security services that their constitutional responsibility is to protect Nigerians, safeguard lives and property, and uphold the rule of law, not to escalate situations through excessive or unlawful force.

“We call for an immediate investigation into the reported use of live ammunition, full accountability where violations are established, and safeguards to ensure that grieving families and protesters can seek justice without intimidation or retaliation,” Global Rights said.

RDI demands autopsy

Also reacting, Executive Director of the Renevlyn Development Initiative, RDI, Philip Jakpor, called for an immediate autopsy and detailed investigation into the deaths, insisting that the findings of the autopsies should be made public.

Jakpor said: “The deaths of the artisan miners under the watch of the NSCDC are totally unacceptable. It is not even the responsibility of the agency to build detention centers where victims are crammed to show it is delivering on its mandate. That is supposed to be the function of the Nigeria Police.

“That is why we insist that this incident cannot be swept under the carpet. We are talking about 37 young men who were hale and hearty when they were apprehended.”

Jakpor also questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of the miners, calling for the identities of those behind the mining operations to be established.

“Arresting artisan miners trying to eke out a living cannot be a big burst when the big players walk freely on the streets. We need to know what the young men were mining; who owns the particular sites where they were apprehended or if the deaths were the silencing of pawns to shield some powerful individuals,” he said. (Vanguard)