SIX OF 37 NIGER MINERS WHO DIED IN NSCDC CUSTODY WERE UNION MEMBERS – MINING WORKERS’ UNION

Breaking News | Nigeria |

November 5, 2026

The revelation that six of the 37 miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State were registered members of the Nigeria Union of Mining Workers has added another dimension to the controversy surrounding one of Nigeria's most disturbing detention-related tragedies.

Testimony before the Niger State Government's Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Minna has brought fresh attention to the circumstances surrounding the miners' arrest, detention and deaths, while raising further questions about accountability and the treatment of suspects in government custody.

According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Mining Workers (NUMW), Comrade Musa Adamu Nasiru, disclosed that 10 of the 65 miners arrested by NSCDC personnel were registered members of his union.

He told the commission that six of those 10 union members died in detention, while the remaining four survived.

"Out of the people who died in custody, 10 of my members were in detention. Six died and four of them survived," Nasiru told the inquiry.

Union Confirms Deaths of Its Members

Nasiru explained that he received information about the deaths from Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Qasim Mohammed Danjuma.

Following the information, he said he delegated some members of the union to visit the relevant NSCDC authorities to establish what had happened.

His testimony provides an important account of the human and organisational impact of the incident, particularly for workers represented by the mining union.

The deaths have raised serious concerns about the protection of workers' rights, the conditions under which suspects are detained and the responsibility of security agencies to safeguard the lives of people in their custody.

Miners' Association Raises Further Questions Over Death Toll

Also appearing before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, the Niger State Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mallam Abdulrazak Yusuf Mohammed, provided a separate account of the incident.

Mohammed, who said his responsibilities covered licensed miners, artisanal miners and mining cooperative societies across Niger State, told the commission that he received information about the incident between September 15 and 17, 2026.

He subsequently contacted his association's vice-chairman and delegated members to establish how many miners were being detained.

According to his testimony, he was informed that 65 people had been detained, of whom 17 survived and 48 died.

He further stated that most of those reportedly killed were from the Tunga area of Minna.

However, the figures require clarification. The 48 deaths cited by the association chairman differ from the 37 deaths reported in the Federal Government's investigation and the headline of the present report. The commission will need to establish the definitive number of victims and reconcile the different accounts.

Mining Workers’ Union+2

Background: How the Niger Mining Tragedy Happened

The incident dates back to September 15–17, 2026, when NSCDC personnel arrested suspected illegal miners during an enforcement operation in Niger State.

The arrests reportedly involved 65 people. Subsequently, reports emerged that dozens of detainees had died while in custody.

The Federal Government announced an independent investigation on September 19, 2026, following President Bola Tinubu's directive. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also announced the suspension of officers connected with the incident pending investigation.

The State House, Abuja

In a subsequent development, a government investigation reported that 37 detainees died from asphyxia associated with severe overcrowding and poor ventilation, compounded by heat stress, dehydration and neglect. The findings described the deaths as preventable.

Reuters

Accountability and Human Rights Questions

The latest testimony before the Niger State inquiry raises several important questions:

1. What exactly happened inside the NSCDC detention facility?
2. Why were so many people reportedly held in circumstances that resulted in mass fatalities?
3. Were adequate medical attention, ventilation, food and water provided to detainees?
4. Who bears institutional and individual responsibility for the deaths?
5. What compensation and support will be provided to the victims' families and survivors?

These questions go beyond the mining sector. They touch on constitutional protections, the right to life, the treatment of suspects and the accountability of security institutions.

The investigation must establish the facts, identify any responsible individuals and ensure that the tragedy does not become another unresolved case in Nigeria's security system.

Note

The deaths of miners in Niger State represent a serious test of Nigeria's commitment to human rights, institutional accountability and the rule of law.

Regardless of whether individuals were suspected of illegal mining, arrest and detention do not remove their fundamental right to life and humane treatment.

The government must ensure that the ongoing inquiry produces credible findings, that victims' families receive justice and that appropriate reforms are introduced to prevent similar incidents.

A country cannot effectively enforce its laws while failing to protect the lives of people held in its custody.

Source: https://leadership.ng/6-of-37-dead-niger-miners-were-union-members-mining-workers-union/