Thirty-three suspected illegal miners have reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
The deceased were among about 40 suspects reportedly detained at an NSCDC facility after being arrested during a crackdown on illegal mining activities in the state.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026. Reports said some of the detainees were found with foam coming from their mouths.
The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC confirmed the deaths, stating that the suspects were apprehended at an illegal mining site located within a residential area.
He said the command conducted operations on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to intensify the fight against illegal mining in the state.
According to him, the exercise led to the arrest of several suspected illegal miners and the recovery of different exhibits.
The commandant, however, attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, while noting that the exact cause had not been established.
He said, “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, in its renewed efforts to rid the state of illegal mining activities, conducted a ‘burst operation’ on 15th and 16th September, 2026, leading to the arrest of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of exhibits.
“The operation yielded significant results, with scores of suspected illegal miners arrested and various exhibits recovered.
“However, in the early hours of 17th September, 2026, scores of the detained suspects were found dead, following a suspected outbreak of disease.”
The NSCDC has not yet revealed the nature of the suspected disease or provided a definitive explanation for the deaths.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as investigations into the incident continue.
