Nigerian police probe death in custody of 37 illegal mining suspects
Nigerian authorities are investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while detained at a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Minna, Niger State. The Niger State government has suspended the commandant pending the investigation, which includes technical and mining experts. Public unrest followed the incident, with police deploying tear gas to disperse protesters. Survivors claim the detainees were held in a cell with little to no air. The RDI has called on the federal government to conduct a thorough probe into the deaths.
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- ✓ Thirty-seven suspected illegal miners died while in custody in Niger State.
- ✓ The detainees were held at a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Minna.
- ✓ The Niger State government suspended the NSCDC commandant pending an investigation.
- ✓ Nigerian police used tear gas against protesters gathering over the deaths.
What changed
Niger State government suspended the NSCDC commandant and deployed technical experts to investigate the deaths.
Live updates
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Nigeria probes deaths of 37 illegal mining suspects in custody
Nigerian authorities are investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while detained at a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Minna, Niger State. The Niger State government has suspended the commandant pending the investigation, which includes technical and mining experts. Public unrest followed the incident, with police deploying tear gas to disperse protesters. Survivors claim the detainees were held in a cell with little to no air. The RDI has called on the federal government to conduct a thorough probe into the deaths.
Why it matters
The NSCDC is a paramilitary agency responsible for protecting critical national infrastructure. This incident highlights tensions regarding the treatment of detainees within paramilitary detention facilities. The location of the deaths in Niger State has triggered localized protests against the agency.
What is confirmed
- Thirty-seven suspected illegal miners died while in custody in Niger State.
- The detainees were held at a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Minna.
- The Niger State government suspended the NSCDC commandant pending an investigation.
- Nigerian police used tear gas against protesters gathering over the deaths.
- Technical and mining experts were sent to investigate the deaths.
Still unconfirmed
- Survivors claim detainees were crammed into a cell with little to no air.
What to watch next
- Findings from the technical and mining experts investigation
- The outcome of the suspended commandant's disciplinary review
- Federal government response to the RDI's call for a probe
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (11)
- Al Jazeera — Nigerian police probe death in custody of 37 illegal mining suspects
- Le Monde.fr — In Niger, 37 suspected illegal miners died while in custody
- BBC — illegal miners death in Niger state: Wat we know about suspected illegal mining pipo wey kpai for civil defence detention facility for Niger
- WRAL — Nigeria police fire tear gas at protesters gathering over the deaths of 37 miners in custody
- Reuters — Protests erupt in Nigeria after 37 miners die in custody of paramilitary agency
- BBC — Illegal mining in Niger state: 37 suspects die in Nigerian custody
- CNN — Protests erupt in Nigeria after 33 miners die in custody of paramilitary agency
- www.yahoo.com — 37 Nigerians suspected of illegal mining die in custody
- www.arise.tv — Niger State Sets Up Probe Into Deaths Of 37 Detainees In NSCDC Custody
- ua.news — Nigeria investigates deaths of 37 illegal mining suspects — Premium Times Nigeria
- gazettengr.com — RDI urges FG to probe deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners in Niger
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