At least 33 suspected illegal miners arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State have reportedly died following a suspected disease outbreak.
The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The deceased were reportedly among scores of suspected illegal miners apprehended by NSCDC personnel during an operation in the state.
According to the commandant, the arrests were made during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto village as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining activities in the state.
The operation led to the arrest of the suspected miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
However, the situation took a tragic turn in the early hours of Thursday when several of those in custody were found dead.
The NSCDC said the deaths were suspected to have resulted from a disease outbreak, although the actual cause had yet to be established.
Following the discovery, the corpses were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, where they are expected to undergo further medical examination to determine the cause of death.
The command said it was working with sister security agencies to contain and manage the situation.
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It also urged members of the public and relatives of the deceased to remain calm and avoid actions that could trigger a breakdown of law and order.
The NSCDC further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting human rights and observing international human rights charters while carrying out its responsibilities.
The corps said its mandate includes protecting lives and property as well as safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure.