About 30 suspected artisanal miners have reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, following a raid on an alleged illegal mining site in Lukota village.
Family members and parents of some of the deceased alleged that they were denied access to the suspects after their arrest and only became aware of their deaths after receiving information about the incident.
The families are seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the events that occurred while the suspects were in detention.
However, the Niger State Command of the NSCDC, in a statement made available to journalists, said its operatives, as part of renewed efforts to rid the state of illegal mining activities, raided Lukota village, where suspected illegal miners were arrested and various exhibits recovered.
The Command further stated that in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026, some of the detained suspects were found dead following an outbreak of an illness among those in custody.
According to the statement, the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Minna General Hospital, where medical examinations and investigations are expected to be conducted to establish the cause of death.
The Command said further details would be provided as investigations into the incident progress.
ABOUT 30 ARTISANAL MINERS REPORTEDLY DIE IN NSCDC CUSTODY IN NIGER.
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BY Aisha Muhammed kuduPublished September 17, 2026
