Protests Erupt in Nigeria After 37 Gold Miners Die in Custody

What began as a crackdown on illegal gold mining in Niger State has turned into a national controversy after 37 suspected miners died while in government custody, sparking angry protests in Minna.

The miners were arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal gold mining in the Wushishi-Lukoto area, west of Minna, between September 15 and 16. They were taken into the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, the capital of Niger State. By Thursday, September 17, authorities reported that 37 detainees had died. The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.

The NSCDC initially suggested that a disease outbreak could have caused the deaths. However, survivors gave a very different account. One survivor, Dauda Shehu, said more than 60 people were packed into a poorly ventilated cell. He described detainees struggling to breathe, sweating heavily and repeatedly asking officers for help. Other survivors and relatives have alleged overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and mistreatment in custody. One survivor also alleged that a substance that irritated their noses and throats was sprayed inside the cell. These accounts have not yet been independently established as the cause of the deaths. The government has therefore ordered investigations and medical examinations to determine what actually happened.

Illegal mining has become a major problem across parts of Nigeria. Niger State is rich in gold and other mineral resources, and authorities have intensified efforts to stop unlicensed mining. Beyond the loss of government revenue and environmental damage, security officials and analysts have raised concerns that illegal mining can be connected to criminal networks and the financing of armed groups. The government therefore has a legitimate responsibility to enforce mining laws.

President Bola Tinubu said that being suspected of illegal mining does not remove a person’s right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody. President Tinubu has ordered a full, transparent and unhindered investigation into the deaths.  The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the number of people held in the facility, the conditions inside the cell and the medical attention provided to those detained. The president also warned that if officials are found to have contributed to the deaths through abuse or negligence, they should face prosecution.

Several NSCDC officials have already been suspended, including the commandant of the agency in Niger State. The federal government has also appointed a 10-member independent panel to investigate the incident. The bodies were taken to Minna General Hospital for medical examination and autopsies.

News of the deaths quickly spread through Minna, and anger spilled onto the streets. Residents, relatives of the deceased and sympathisers gathered to demand justice. Protesters were heard chanting “Justice must be done” as demonstrations spread through parts of the city. The protests later became violent. Government facilities, vehicles and businesses were reportedly damaged, while police and other security forces moved to disperse protesters. Security forces fired tear gas, and reports also emerged of gunfire during the clashes. It was not immediately clear whether live ammunition or anti-riot rounds were used in every instance.

The Niger State government subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew in Minna to restore order and prevent further destruction. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago appealed for calm, while saying the government would work to establish what happened.

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