The names of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have been released.


The victims were among people arrested during anti-illegal mining operations conducted by the NSCDC around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026. They reportedly died on September 17 while being held at an NSCDC facility in Minna.


The identities were released by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), with several Nigerian media organisations subsequently publishing the list.


Full List of the 37 Victims


1. Ibrahim Sani

2. Fahad Sa’adu

3. Abdulsalam Ismail

4. Usman Aliyu

5. Abubakar Alhaji

6. Sani Nasir

7. Sanusi Khalid

8. Ahmad Aliyu

9. Safiyanu Abdullahi

10. Suleiman Dantala

11. Idris Haruna

12. Sani Yakubu

13. Safiyanu Abubakar

14. Abdullahi Abubakar

15. Abubakar Musa

16. Abdul Mudassir

17. Suleiman Lawal

18. Usman Abdullahi

19. Samuel Sambo

20. Ibrahim Musa

21. Yusuf Nasiru

22. Umar Lawal

23. Isyaku Amisu

24. Bissallah Adamu

25. Abdulbari Suleiman

26. Shafisu Lado

27. Usman Ahmad

28. Usman Ibrahim

29. Sani Isyaku

30. Musa Ibrahim

31. Idris Bashir

32. Kabiru Suleiman

33. Emmanuel Emeka

34. Mu’awiya AbdulKarim

35. Abdul Gafar Abubakar

36. Usman Haruna

37. Aro Salihu Soba


Investigation Underway


The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation. The NSCDC initially said the deaths may have resulted from a suspected disease outbreak, while other accounts raised concerns about overcrowding and poor ventilation at the detention facility.


An autopsy and further investigation are expected to establish the cause and circumstances of the deaths.


Following the incident, the Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation.


The NSCDC also announced that personnel had been detained in connection with the incident, while the Niger State Government established a separate committee to investigate the deaths.


The investigations are expected to determine the cause of death, circumstances surrounding the arrests and detention, and whether negligence, misconduct or other wrongdoing occurred.