The names of the 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have been released.
The victims were among those arrested during anti-illegal mining operations conducted by the NSCDC in the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The deaths, which occurred on September 17, shortly after the arrests, have sparked public concern, protests and calls for accountability.
The NSCDC had initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak and said the bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.
Following protests by youths over the incident, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago imposed a 24-hour curfew across the state.
The governor also disclosed that some survivors were taken to hospital for treatment, while others were reunited with their families after the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) took their statements.
The Federal Government has since ordered an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the identities of the victims, their arrest and detention, and the cause of death.
The deceased are:
- Ibrahim Sani
- Fahad Sa’adu
- Abdulsalam Ismail
- Usman Aliyu
- Abubakar Alhaji
- Sani Nasir
- Sanusi Khalid
- Ahmad Aliyu
- Safiyanu Abdullahi
- Suleiman Dantala
- Idris Haruna
- Sani Yakubu
- Safiyanu Abubakar
- Abdullahi Abubakar
- Abubakar Musa
- Abdul Mudassir
- Suleiman Lawal
- Usman Abdullahi
- Samuel Sambo
- Ibrahim Musa
- Yusuf Nasiru
- Umar Lawal
- Isyaku Amisu
- Bissallah Adamu
- Abdulbari Suleiman
- Shafisu Lado
- Usman Ahmad
- Usman Ibrahim
- Sani Isyaku
- Musa Ibrahim
- Idris Bashir
- Kabiru Suleiman
- Emmanuel Emeka
- Mu’awiya AbdulKarim
- Abdul Gafar Abubakar
- Usman Haruna
- Aro Salihu Soba
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation, with authorities yet to establish an official cause of death.
