Thirty‑seven men accused of illegal mining were found dead in a detention centre run by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, officials said on Thursday. The deaths, which occurred two days after the men were arrested for suspected unlawful mining near Borgu, have triggered an investigation by the Nigerian police chief, Wasiu Abiodun.
NSCDC officials attributed the fatalities to a possible diphtheria outbreak, a serious bacterial infection that can be fatal. However, an intelligence report shared with the AFP suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the facility may have caused the deaths.
State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago called the incident “sad and tragic” and declared three days of mourning. He also postponed the start of the January election campaign and detained an NSCDC commander following the incident.
Relatives of the deceased have disputed the official explanation, claiming the men were deliberately killed. The bodies were taken to the general hospital in nearby Minna for examination.
The gold rush in Niger State’s mineral‑rich region has been linked to criminal gang violence, with much of the gold trafficked through global supply chains, a 2024 SwissAid report noted.
The investigation is ongoing, with police and NSCDC officials working to determine the exact cause of the deaths and to hold those responsible accountable.
