Thirty-seven people arrested over alleged illegal mining have died while being held at a detention facility in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State.
Authorities said the victims were among more than 50 individuals apprehended during an operation near Borgu, an area known for artisanal gold extraction.
The deaths occurred two days after the arrests at a facility operated by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary organisation responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and supporting internal security operations.
The circumstances surrounding the fatalities remain unclear, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.
The NSCDC initially suggested that the detainees may have died from a suspected diphtheria outbreak.
However, its national headquarters later said no specific cause had been confirmed and that medical and laboratory examinations would be required.
An intelligence report cited by AFP indicated that overcrowding and inadequate airflow inside the holding centre may have contributed to the deaths.
A relative of one survivor told the BBC that detainees struggled in the extreme heat inside the packed cell and repeatedly called for assistance.
He said his son survived because he was positioned close to a small opening that allowed some air into the room.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described the incident as tragic and ordered three days of mourning.
He also announced the postponement of election campaign activities scheduled to begin ahead of January’s polls.
The governor said an NSCDC commander had been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Niger State Police Commissioner also directed an immediate probe into what he described as the deaths of suspected illegal miners inside an NSCDC detention centre.
The victims’ remains have been transferred to a general hospital in Minna, where post-mortem examinations are expected to establish how they died.
Families of some of the deceased have questioned the explanation of a disease outbreak, with relatives saying some victims appeared healthy during visits shortly before their deaths.
One family has called for an independent autopsy.
The arrests followed a security operation targeting unlicensed mining activities in the mineral-rich state.
The NSCDC said illegal mining remains widespread, with informal miners operating in several open areas.
Its spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, said those detained had not yet been formally charged because officials were still conducting identification and documentation procedures when the deaths occurred.
Nigeria’s constitution requires suspects held on criminal allegations to be presented before a court within a reasonable period, normally within 24 hours where a court is located within 40 kilometres, or within 48 hours in other circumstances.
Illegal gold mining has become a growing security concern in parts of Niger State, with officials and experts linking competition over mineral deposits to criminal activity and gang violence.
A 2024 SwissAid report also found that significant quantities of gold extracted from the area enter international markets through trafficking networks.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong