The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
In a statement, Speaker Abbas said the investigations should examine congestion in custodial centres, operational guidelines, the rights of suspects and the welfare of persons in custody.
‎He called for transparency and accountability in the investigations, stressing that justice must be done to the deceased and be seen to have been done by the public.
‎According to him, this would help calm public concerns and restore confidence in the process.
‎Recall that the 37 victims were among scores of suspects arrested during NSCDC operations on September 15 and 16, 2026, in M.I Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State, over alleged illegal mining. They were found dead in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, inside an NSCDC detention facility in Minna.
‎While the Niger State Command initially linked the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, survivors alleged that about 67 detainees were cramped into a poorly ventilated cell and suffocated. The incident sparked nationwide outrage, prompting the Federal Government to suspend the State Commandant and order a full-scale investigation.
Speaker Abbas expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Niger State Government.
