RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
The Nigeria Police Force has secured the scene where 37 suspected illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State, as authorities intensify efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu disclosed this on Saturday after inspecting the location alongside Niger State Governor Umar Bago and other security officials.
Disu said the scene had been secured to preserve potential evidence and prevent anything from being removed, introduced or altered during the investigation.
“We have to keep the place safe, we have to keep it clean, we have to ensure that nothing is removed and nothing is added in the scene of the incident,” the IGP said.
POLICE PROMISE TRANSPARENCY
Disu assured residents that investigators would work with relevant authorities to establish what happened and pledged that information would not be concealed.
“We assure them that nothing will be kept from their knowledge; we will not hide anything, and we will be transparent,” he said.
The IGP also appealed for calm following demonstrations over the deaths, saying the situation had stabilised after the state government imposed a curfew.
CAUSE OF DEATHS NOT YET ESTABLISHED
The 37 persons died after being detained following operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the state.
The precise cause of their deaths has not been conclusively established.
Governor Bago has said investigators are examining different possibilities, while preliminary examinations reportedly identified unusual physical signs among some of the deceased. Those observations have not been established as the cause of death.
The state government has suspended mining activities pending investigation, while scientific and laboratory examinations are also being conducted.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive probe, with a Federal Government committee mandated to examine the arrest, detention and deaths of the 37 persons and determine whether there was responsibility, negligence or misconduct.
The police said they would cooperate with the committee, NSCDC and other relevant agencies as investigations continue.
