Nigerian Security Forces Crack Down on Protests Over Custodial Deaths of 37 Miners

Security forces in Nigeria deployed tear gas and opened fire as hundreds of demonstrators gathered for a second consecutive day of protests in Minna, Niger State. The unrest follows the tragic deaths of 37 miners while in custody.

While uncertainty remained regarding whether troops used live ammunition or anti-riot pellets, a witness reported to the Reuters news agency that bullets were fired and a body was seen on the ground. In response to the escalating situation, state governor Umar Bago instituted a 24-hour curfew and pledged a comprehensive government investigation.

The 37 fatalities occurred while the individuals were held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary agency, as announced by officials on Thursday. The victims had been detained earlier in the week during raids targeting suspected illegal mining in the Wushishi-Lukoto area, located west of Minna.

Although the NSCDC initially hinted at a potential disease outbreak, the agency later clarified that the official cause of death remains unconfirmed pending further medical examinations and investigations. However, concerns have been raised over the possibility of conducting post-mortems following the rapid burial of all the deceased on Thursday evening.

An intelligence report reviewed by the AFP news agency indicated that severe overcrowding and poor ventilation in the holding cells may have caused the deaths. Several survivors corroborated this account, with survivor Dauda Shehu describing harrowing scenes of panic and suffocation at a central Nigerian hospital, noting that guards ignored repeated pleas for fresh air.

Amid the fallout, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo suspended Niger State NSCDC commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye pending the outcome of the inquiry. The Interior Ministry acknowledged the tragedy while confirming the suspension.

Niger State boasts rich mineral reserves, including uranium and gold, making mining a vital economic sector. At the same time, illegal mining remains widespread in Nigeria, frequently contributing to violence among armed factions vying for control over the lucrative trade.