By Spear News Nigeria
More than 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State were allegedly beaten and physically assaulted before their deaths.
An exclusive report by SaharaReporters cited eyewitnesses, also alleged that NSCDC officers attempted to dispose of the bodies without notifying their families.
According to SaharaReporters, the deaths occurred after the suspects were arrested during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The NSCDC has confirmed that several suspected illegal miners died in its custody but has disputed any established cause of death, saying the circumstances surrounding the deaths are being investigated. The Corps said the remains had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and determination of the actual cause of death.
The NSCDC initially said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following a suspected disease outbreak. However, its national headquarters later clarified that any claim attributing the deaths to a particular disease had not been medically or scientifically established.
Witnesses Allege Torture
Eyewitnesses who spoke to medium said the victims were allegedly subjected to severe physical assault while in custody after their arrest over suspected illegal mining. The sources said the treatment was unlawful, arguing that suspects should be prosecuted rather than subjected to physical punishment while in detention.
One of the sources, identified as Ibrahim Adamu, told SaharaReporters that more than 37 people had died.
“This is about the killing of over 37 innocent citizens,” Adamu said. “They said they were involved in illegal mining.
“It is true that they caught them engaging in illegal mining, but the law does not say that when someone is caught engaging in illegal mining, they should be killed through torture or beaten to death.
“After they arrested them, they took them into custody and started beating them as if they had caught dangerous criminals.
“The law does not say they should be killed instantly. They are supposed to be prosecuted and, if found guilty, sentenced to a certain period of imprisonment.
“Nobody said they should just be killed. There is no law that says if you catch someone engaging in illegal mining, you should kill them.
“There are many criminals in the country doing worse things, yet nobody invites them and nobody kills them.
“They were beaten to death.”
Adamu said he personally witnessed the removal of bodies from the NSCDC facility.
“They brought the corpses outside their custody, within their premises,” he said. “I witnessed it.”
Relative Says Brother Died in Custody
Another source, whose brother was among the deceased, told SaharaReporters that he had gone to the facility to secure his brother’s release.
“My brother was among them. I was there on Thursday to bail him and the civil defence officers said I should bring N500,000.
“Before I left the station yesterday, they started beating them with heavy sticks and iron in my presence.
“Till now, my brother’s dead body is still with the civil defence,” the source added.
Another witness alleged that families of the detainees were not immediately informed about the deaths and that relatives who came to the facility to make inquiries about those being held there were the ones who discovered what had happened.
“They were not even calling the families,” he said. “It was the people who had relatives with cases at the facility who started noticing what was happening.
“They were asking, ‘Who are these people? Are they criminals? What happened?’
“They were told that these were students who had gone there for illegal mining.
“That was how the news got out.
“If not for that, nobody would have known. They would have carried the dead bodies away and dumped them somewhere.”
Asked whether he was alleging that the security personnel intended to dispose of the bodies without notifying the victims’ families, Adamu responded in the affirmative.
Asked, “So, they intended to dump the dead bodies?” He replied: “Yes, that was their intention.
“They did not even intend to invite the families. They even threw the dead bodies outside their premises like waste.”
According to him, relatives who went to the facility to check on family members raised the alarm after seeing the bodies.
“It was those people who went to the station to check on their family members who had issues with the officers who discovered that something was wrong,” he said. “They saw the dead bodies, about 37 of them.”
He said the development later attracted the attention of the police and other security agencies after a crowd gathered at the facility.
“They have already invited the police,” he said. “When a crowd gathered, the police and other security agencies came.
“Once they arrived, nobody was allowed access to the premises anymore. So, we were just standing there stranded.”
Asked about the whereabouts of the bodies, the source said they had not been removed from the facility at the time of the interview.
“Where are the corpses now? Have they been evacuated?” SaharaReporters asked. The source replied: “They are still there. The corpses are still inside the station.”
NSCDC Confirms Deaths, Orders Investigation
The allegations come as the NSCDC has constituted a high-powered investigative team to probe the deaths of the suspected illegal miners.
In a statement signed by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC said its Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, directed the constitution of the investigative team following the deaths.
The team is being led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
According to the Corps, the suspects were arrested during coordinated enforcement operations conducted by the Niger State Command in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to combat illegal mining and protect the nation’s natural resources.
The NSCDC said the investigative team would examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects at the time of arrest, the period they spent in custody, the conditions under which they were detained and the medical attention provided to them.
“The team has been mandated to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths, including the condition of the suspects upon arrest, their period in custody, the conditions of detention, medical attention provided, and other relevant circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The Corps said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and determination of the actual cause of death.
“The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and determination of the actual cause of death.”
The NSCDC also said it was working with relevant health authorities and sister security agencies to ensure that appropriate medical and public-health measures were taken. The Corps specifically cautioned against prematurely attributing the deaths to any particular disease.
“The NSCDC wishes to clarify that reports attributing the deaths to any specific disease remain subject to medical and laboratory confirmation,” Afolabi said. “The Corps will therefore refrain from speculation until the outcome of the medical examination is established.”
The Commandant General also directed that the health and welfare of all persons currently in NSCDC custody be given utmost priority, while measures were being taken to protect personnel who may have had contact with the affected persons.
The Corps expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and promised that the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be thoroughly investigated.
“The Corps extends its condolences to the families of the deceased and assures them that the circumstances surrounding the incident will be thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed based on established facts.”
The NSCDC maintained that while it remained committed to combating illegal mining and protecting Nigeria’s critical national assets, it was also committed to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of people in its custody.
“While the NSCDC remains resolute in its mandate to combat illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s critical national assets, the Corps also remains committed to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of every person in its custody.”
This report is based on an exclusive report by SaharaReporters
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