The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, visited the Niger State Government House in Minna on Friday, 18 September 2026, to discuss the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Disu was received by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. The IGP expressed condolences to the state government and the families of those who died. He assured the governor that the Nigeria Police Force would conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the deaths.
“I am here this afternoon because of the tragic incident where we lost the lives of 37 citizens of this state. It is a very tragic incident, and we want to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned to unravel the situation that led to these deaths,” Disu stated during the meeting, according to reports of the discussion.
The IGP indicated that the police would collaborate with the NSCDC, the state government, and other relevant agencies. He also noted that police had taken charge of the scene to preserve evidence.
Background to the Incident
The 37 individuals were among a larger group of suspected illegal miners arrested by NSCDC operatives during enforcement operations conducted on 15 and 16 September 2026 in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto area of Niger State. The operation targeted illegal mining activities in the mineral-rich region.
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The deaths were discovered in the early hours of 17 September 2026 inside the NSCDC detention facility in Minna. The state command initially described the incident as following a suspected disease outbreak, though the precise cause of death had not been conclusively determined at the time. Bodies were transferred to the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination, forensic analysis, and autopsies.
Governor Bago confirmed the death toll and described the event as sad and tragic. He stated that the state government had begun forensic examinations and medical reviews. A state investigative committee involving the Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Army was constituted. Additional probes were initiated at the federal level, including by the Federal Ministry of Mines. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a full-scale investigation and suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant pending the outcome.
Reports also indicated that the incident sparked protests in Minna, with some public and private property affected, leading the governor to impose a temporary curfew and call for calm. Survivors and other accounts shared publicly raised questions about detention conditions, including overcrowding, though official findings on the cause remain pending.
Ongoing Investigations and Calls for Accountability
The meeting between the IGP and the governor takes place against a backdrop of public concern and demands for accountability from both federal and state authorities. Multiple parallel investigations are underway to establish the facts surrounding the arrests, the conditions of detention, and the events that led to the deaths.
Illegal mining remains a significant challenge in parts of Niger State and other mineral-producing areas of Nigeria, often involving artisanal operators and raising issues of regulation, security, and environmental impact. Authorities have intensified operations against such activities in recent periods.
As of the IGP’s visit, the focus remained on a transparent process, preservation of the scene, and cooperation among security agencies and the state government. Further updates are expected as autopsy results and investigative findings become available.
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