Suffocated, Poisoned? Bago Orders Probe Into Niger Tragedy as 37 Suspects Die in NSCDC Custody

• Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has confirmed the deaths of 37 persons who were being held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna.

• The victims were reportedly among persons suspected of involvement in illegal mining activities, although the governor said the actual cause of their deaths had not been established.

• Preliminary indications cited by the governor pointed to possible suffocation or lead poisoning, raising questions about the conditions under which the detainees were held.

• The incident has triggered calls for a thorough investigation to establish how 37 people could die while in the custody of a government security agency, with authorities expected to determine responsibility and prevent a recurrence.

September 18, () – Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has confirmed that 37 persons died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, as authorities commenced investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the mass deaths.

Bago disclosed this while speaking to journalists in the state capital, saying the government had launched an investigation into the incident and would establish what led to the deaths.

According to the governor, preliminary information indicated that the victims may have died from suffocation or lead poisoning.

He, however, cautioned against concluding before the investigation is completed, stressing that the actual cause of death would be determined through the ongoing probe.

“An investigation is being launched into the cause of the deaths,” Bago said.

The governor also said the authorities would investigate the circumstances under which the detainees died and establish responsibility where wrongdoing or negligence was found.

The deaths reportedly involved persons arrested on suspicion of illegal mining activities.

Illegal mining remains a major security and environmental concern in parts of Niger State and other mineral-producing areas of the country, with authorities frequently conducting operations against unlicensed mining and related activities.

Reports on the incident indicate that the detainees had been held by the NSCDC before the deaths occurred.

Details on the exact number of people detained, the duration of their detention, and the specific location and conditions of the cell were still being established as of the time of filing this report.

The bodies of the deceased have been taken for autopsy to determine the medical cause of death, with the outcome expected to provide crucial evidence for the investigation.