NSCDC releases names of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in custody

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has released the names of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in its custody in Niger State.

NSCDC personnel arrested the victims during operations against illegal mining on September 15 and 16, 2026.

The suspects died on September 17, shortly after their arrest. Their deaths have sparked public concern, protests and calls for an investigation.

The NSCDC said a suspected disease outbreak caused the deaths. The corps moved the bodies to the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination.

The examination aims to establish the actual cause of death.

Youths later protested the deaths in the state.

The protests prompted Governor Mohammed Bago to impose a 24-hour curfew on Friday.

Bago also said some survivors were receiving treatment in hospital. Others had returned to their families.

The Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services DSS interviewed the survivors before their reunification with their families, according to the governor.

The 37 deceased persons were identified as:

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

Others include:

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