The Centre for Peace Transparency and Accountability has called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The demand followed reports that suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026, died while in detention. The Centre said initial reports put the death toll at 33, while subsequent official accounts cited 37 deaths.
In a statement signed by Comrade Patrick Onomuodeke, the organisation described the reports as deeply disturbing, insisting that the incident must not be treated with “silence, indifference or political convenience.”
The Centre noted conflicting explanations surrounding the deaths. While the NSCDC initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, other accounts raised concerns about detention conditions, including alleged overcrowding and poor ventilation.
It said the conflicting narratives made an independent and credible investigation imperative.
The organisation welcomed the Federal Government’s reported response, including the constitution of a 10-member independent committee by the Minister of Interior, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive investigation. It also acknowledged the reported suspension of officers allegedly involved in the incident.
However, the Centre cautioned that establishing a committee was only the beginning, stressing that investigators must be allowed to work without interference and have access to all relevant information and witnesses.
It urged the committee to establish the exact number and identities of the deceased, the circumstances of their arrests, their medical conditions upon arrival, and the conditions under which they were detained.
Other issues requiring investigation, according to the group, include the adequacy of food, water, sanitation, ventilation and medical care; the timeline of events; the timeliness of emergency response; and possible breaches of detention procedures or human-rights standards.
The Centre emphasised that arrest for alleged illegal mining did not strip detainees of their fundamental rights.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to combat illegal mining and protect the environment, it insisted that enforcement agencies must operate within constitutional and human-rights boundaries.
The organisation called for prosecution of anyone found culpable of negligence, abuse, misconduct or other unlawful actions that contributed to the deaths.
It further urged the government to ensure that the investigation’s findings are made public and its recommendations implemented, warning against allowing the matter to disappear into bureaucratic obscurity. “We call for the investigators to follow the evidence wherever it leads,” the Centre stated.
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