Severe unrest has erupted across Minna following the deaths of 37 individuals, many believed to be teenagers, while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The victims were among dozens arrested during recent enforcement operations targeting artisanal gold mining operations in the Wushishi-Lukoto axis.
The fatalities were discovered at an NSCDC facility in the state capital, where detainees had been held following the operation. While the NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a sudden disease outbreak, official intelligence reports and survivor testimonies point to extreme overcrowding, lack of ventilation, and severe negligence.
Survivors recounted that over 60 individuals were crammed into a single, unventilated detention cell, leading to mass suffocation as detainees banged on doors for hours desperate for air before guards responded. Relatives outside the facility further alleged that officials denied detainees food and demanded up to ₦100,000 for their release prior to the tragedy.
The tragedy has prompted swift executive and security interventions. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a comprehensive investigation into the deaths, directing that any culpable officials face prosecution. Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the immediate suspension of Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu arrived at the Niger State Government House in Minna to commiserate with the state government and guarantee a thorough, transparent probe.
To contain escalating civil unrest, Niger State
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew across Minna alongside three days of state mourning. Enraged residents and family members took to the streets targeting government structures in the Tunga district, prompting security forces to deploy live ammunition and tear gas to disperse armed demonstrators calling for accountability.
Bago highlighted the underlying socio-economic crisis, noting that a significant number of the deceased were minors aged 14 to 18 drawn into illicit artisanal gold mining instead of attending school. Joint investigations by federal authorities and the police remain ongoing.
