The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has sent a high-powered team to Niger State to investigate the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Alake announced the deployment in a statement on Friday, as he expressed condolences to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the families of those who died.
He said the team would establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the facts of the case.
“It is with profound shock and deep sorrow that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the entire people of the state over the tragic loss of lives among detained citizens in Minna,” Alake said.
Describing the deaths as particularly painful, the minister sympathised with the affected families and communities.
“During this solemn period of state mourning, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the communities bearing the weight of this grief,” he added.
Alake commended Bago for declaring a period of mourning and putting an investigative process in place to establish what led to the deaths.
He also called for an inquiry that would be transparent and independent, stressing that the outcome should determine accountability and help prevent similar incidents in detention and correctional facilities.
“A thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry is vital to ensure accountability and prevent any recurrence of such distress in our detention and correctional facilities.”
According to the minister, the deceased were among individuals reportedly arrested on suspicion of illegal mining, prompting his ministry to commence its own investigation alongside other authorities.
“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,” he said.
The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident.”
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PUNCH Online had reported that the NSCDC opened an investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in Niger State.
The arrests were carried out in coordinated operations in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of measures to tackle illegal mining in the state.
Initial reports said at least 33 detainees died at an NSCDC facility in Minna, while later reports raised the figure to about 40. The NSCDC has yet to officially confirm a final death toll.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, had linked the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, the NSCDC national headquarters maintained that the cause of death had not been determined, stressing that any connection to a particular disease would require medical and laboratory confirmation.
Following the incident, the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered a high-powered investigation led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
The probe is to examine the condition of the suspects at the point of arrest, the duration of their detention, the conditions under which they were held and the medical care they received.
Alake said the ministry’s investigation would complement the other inquiries already underway.
He also offered prayers for the bereaved families.
“May the Almighty comfort the families affected and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest,” he said.