Gov Bago declares 24-hour curfew in Minna over 37 illegal miners’ deaths in NSCDC custody

Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has declared a 24-hour curfew in Minna, the state capital, following an uproar after 37 illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state.

In a statement on Friday, Abdullbergy Usman Ebbo, the special adviser to the governor on digital media and strategy, confirmed the development.

“The Niger State government has declared 24 hours curfew in Minna. The curfew will become effective immediately after Juma’at prayer,” he said.

Mr Ebbo further advised residents to comply strictly with the directives to avoid further breakdown of law and order.

This comes shortly after 37 illegal miners died in custody on Thursday and NSCDC’s commandant in the state, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, was suspended.