Niger Miners’ Tragedy: I Lost My Son, 9 Relatives – Grieving Father

Families besiege hospitals, mortuaries, demand bodies for burial

BY SILAS  EZEUGWU, Abuja And ABU NMODU, Minna

As relatives of the 37 artisanal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday besieged hospitals and mortuaries in Minna, Niger State, demanding the release of their loved ones’ remains for burial, a grieving father, Mohammed Nuru, recounted how he lost his son and nine close relatives after efforts to secure their release from custody failed.

Nuru, a resident of Tunga community in Minna, was among relatives who said they were denied access to the detainees following their arrest, despite repeated appeals to the authorities.

The tragedy sparked another round of violence in Minna following the release of the bodies of 15 of the deceased to the Tunga community for burial.

The unrest followed the deaths of the young miners, who were allegedly arrested while illegally excavating a gold-mining site in Wushishi.

Residents of Tunga, which recorded the highest number of deaths, told LEADERSHIP Weekend after the burial, conducted in accordance with Islamic rites at Tunga Mosque, that they believed the miners had been deliberately killed by the officers.

Father Recalls Loss of Son, Relatives

Mohammadu Nuru, whose son, Sabiu, was among the 15 miners buried in Tunga, said he took food to the detainees and attempted to see them after their arrest but was denied access.

He said nine of the victims were his close relatives and neighbours, adding that the tragedy had devastated his family.

The grieving father said his son and other children, some as young as 14, had followed artisanal miners to dig for gold because of their poor economic circumstances and desire to support their families.

He said they never imagined that their attempt to earn a living would end in tragedy.

“I lost my son, Sabiu, and nine other close relations and neighbours. My family is badly hit, and the experience of that dark day will continue to remain painful for us.

“Sadly, I went there with food and also to see them when they were arrested, but we were not allowed to see them. We never knew it would end this way,” he lamented.

Another member of the community, Maikudi Mohammed, dismissed rumours that the miners were under the influence of drugs, saying they were children between the ages of 12 and 17 who were struggling to survive economically.

He said that when reports of the deaths began circulating in the media, community members rushed to the relevant office to confirm the information. By then, he said, the authorities had taken the bodies to the General Hospital mortuary.

Mohammed added that they saw the bodies in a van, with foam and blood around the mouths of some of the victims.

 

Survivor Alleges Neglect in Custody

A check at Minna General Hospital by LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday showed that the surviving detainees had been discharged, except one, identified as Aliyu.

Speaking to our correspondent amid tight security, Aliyu alleged that officers failed to respond when the detainees called for help.

He said the detention facility was extremely hot and that about 70 people were inside.

According to him, the detainees repeatedly called the officers but received no response.

He said some of those who died might have survived if they had been allowed access to fresh air.

 

Governor Bago Orders Curfew, Calls for Investigation

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who received the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed that the mob action triggered by the deaths resulted in the vandalisation of the state transport company’s fleet, attacks on Sterling Bank and the destruction of party offices, while private businesses were also looted.

Bago described the prolonged detention of the miners by the state command of the NSCDC as callous and reckless, particularly in view of the reported conditions of the detainees and the subsequent deaths.

He said the decision to keep such a large number of people in custody for an extended period raised serious questions about how the detainees were handled and warranted a thorough investigation.

The governor declared a curfew from 6pm to 6am in Minna, the state capital, as part of efforts to contain the unrest.

Bago, who had earlier constituted an investigative panel into the incident, said the curfew was necessary to prevent further violence and loss of lives and property.

 

Ex-Police Chief, Security Expert Demand Cell Overhaul

Reacting to the incident, former police commissioner Lawrence Alobi called for a coroner’s inquest into the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody.

He said the exercise was necessary to establish the circumstances and actual causes of the deaths and determine whether there was any criminal or civil liability.

Alobi stressed that speculation should not replace a proper investigation.

He also called for closer supervision of detention facilities, saying officers in charge should regularly inspect cells to ensure detainees were not overcrowded, held for excessive periods or subjected to unhealthy conditions.

According to him, suspects remain human beings with fundamental rights, including the right to life and humane treatment, regardless of the offences they are accused of.

He said reports that detainees knocked on the cell door without receiving timely attention, if established, would raise serious questions about the responsibilities of officers assigned to guard the facility.

The former police chief urged security agencies to strengthen training and supervision, arguing that agencies saddled with specialised responsibilities must be adequately equipped and trained to perform their duties.

He dismissed suggestions that the deaths were deliberately intended to silence the suspects as speculation, saying there was no evidence at the time to support such a conclusion.

He, however, said the tragedy should serve as a lesson to security agencies and urged commanders to take responsibility for the welfare and safety of people held in their custody.

Another security expert, Captain Udoedeghe Essiret, called on heads of security agencies to conduct regular, unannounced inspections of detention facilities to ensure that detainees were kept in safe and humane conditions.

Essiret also urged security authorities to install CCTV cameras in detention facilities to improve monitoring and accountability and help prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.

Expressing sadness over the deaths, he said Nigeria had lost young lives that should have been protected, describing the incident as deeply painful and traumatising.

 

Atiku Reacts

Meanwhile, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, expressed sadness and concern over the deaths of dozens of Nigerians while in NSCDC custody.

In a statement, Atiku said the deceased were human beings whose families had every right to expect that, regardless of the allegations against them, the state would protect their lives and dignity while they remained in custody.

He said no Nigerian should enter government custody and lose the basic right to life.

“I am deeply saddened and profoundly disturbed by the deaths of dozens of Nigerians while in NSCDC custody in Niger State,” he said.

Atiku commended the federal government for suspending the officers under whose watch the tragedy occurred and ordering a full investigation.

However, he said the investigation must be independent, thorough and transparent, with its findings made public.

He further said anyone found responsible through action, abuse or negligence must be held accountable.

He commiserated with the bereaved families and prayed that God would grant them strength and comfort, while urging that the truth be established without delay.

 

Northern Governors Condole Niger State

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) also expressed grief and concern over the deaths of the 37 young miners in Niger State.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, conveyed the Forum’s condolences to the government and people of Niger State, as well as the families and loved ones of the deceased.

He described the incident as a deeply distressing national tragedy that demanded responsible action.

In a statement signed by his Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Yahaya said the loss of so many lives, particularly while the victims were in custody, was a matter of grave concern to the Forum.

He stressed that, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their arrest, every human life was valuable and must be treated with dignity and protected in accordance with the law.

The governor called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths, urging the relevant authorities to establish what happened before, during and after the victims were taken into custody.

He said the investigation should be allowed to run its full course and address all relevant questions.

“We must allow the facts to emerge through a credible investigation. The families of the deceased deserve answers, and Nigerians deserve clarity on the circumstances surrounding this painful tragedy,” Yahaya said.

He commended the authorities for initiating investigations and urged all relevant agencies to ensure that the process was comprehensive, transparent and capable of establishing the facts.

The chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum also urged residents, particularly affected families and communities, to remain calm and exercise restraint, stressing that investigations should be allowed to proceed without interference.

 

Mining Deaths Spark Wider Safety Concerns

The deaths of suspected illegal miners in detention in Niger State, alongside a series of fatal mining accidents across the country, have renewed concerns about the safety of mining workers and communities.

The government, labour unions and experts have called for stronger regulation, improved awareness and urgent measures to prevent further loss of lives.

 

Alake Dispatches Ministerial Probe Team

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the deaths of detainees in Minna who were allegedly arrested over suspected involvement in illegal mining activities.

Alake, in a statement issued on Friday, September 18, 2026, expressed condolences to the government and people of Niger State, describing the incident as a tragic loss of lives.

He sympathised with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the affected families and communities, while commending the governor for declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The minister said a thorough, transparent and independent investigation was necessary to establish accountability and prevent similar incidents in detention and correctional facilities.

“Given the allegation that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining, I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter,” Alake said.

He added that the ministerial team would work with other investigators and produce a comprehensive report on the incident.

The minister also prayed for comfort for the bereaved families and communities and for the souls of the deceased to rest in peace.

 

Union Raises Safety Concerns

Beyond the deaths in detention, the National Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) has raised concerns over the growing number of mining-related fatalities in the country, attributing the problem to poverty, weak enforcement of safety regulations and the activities of unregistered miners.

Speaking on recent incidents in Taraba and Niger states, as well as mining accidents in Kogi State, NUMW President, Comrade Hamza Muhammed, said the union was still working to establish the total number of people who had died in mining accidents across the country this year.

 

55 miners earlier died in Kogi – NUMW

He said some incidents were yet to be fully verified but recalled recent mining-site collapses in Kogi State, including one incident in which about 50 people were reportedly killed. Two other incidents in the state, he said, claimed two and three lives respectively.

Muhammed said the union had visited some affected communities and warned miners and residents against entering unstable mining pits, particularly during the rainy season when the risk of collapses increases.

He said the problem was not limited to workers registered with the union, stressing that the union’s primary concern was the protection of human life.

“Some of them are inside with the union. Some of them are not registered. But our concern is for human life,” he said.

According to him, union membership goes beyond administrative registration, as organised workers can help facilitate rescue operations and provide channels for reporting unsafe working conditions.

He said union members in neighbouring communities were often mobilised to assist with rescue efforts when mining accidents occurred, particularly in areas where government agencies could not immediately respond.

“Government cannot cover everywhere,” he said, calling for closer cooperation between government authorities and workers’ representatives to strengthen monitoring and emergency response in mining communities.

The union leader also lamented that some mining companies restrict union access to their operations or discourage workers from joining organised labour.

He said workers who attempt to organise or participate in collective bargaining sometimes risk losing their jobs, making it difficult for the union to identify workers and advocate for their safety.

Muhammed said the union had previously engaged the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Ministry of Labour and other stakeholders on issues including unionisation and child labour in the mining sector.

While the stakeholders had responded positively to some of the union’s proposals, he said the major challenge remained implementation.

“The only thing we are looking at is implementation,” he said.

The union called for stronger enforcement of mining and labour regulations, improved collaboration between government agencies and workers’ representatives, and greater protection for miners who seek to organise.

It also urged authorities to strengthen monitoring of mining sites, enforce safety standards and ensure that miners and surrounding communities receive adequate warnings about the dangers posed by unstable mining pits, especially during the rainy season.

 

Expert Calls for Greater Awareness

A geologist and former president of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Prof. Olatunji Akinade, described the continued loss of lives in mining activities as unfortunate, attributing some incidents to poverty, ignorance and the pursuit of short-term economic gains.

Akinade, of the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, said that despite government efforts to raise awareness about the dangers associated with mining, some individuals continued to expose themselves to serious risks.

He said the situation was not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that the economic incentives associated with mining could encourage people to disregard safety warnings.

“It’s unfortunate that in spite of all the enlightenment by government at a state level, individuals should contribute to risk their lives at mine sites. And unfortunately, we are recording this kind of catastrophic event, which is not good at all,” he said.

According to him, increased public awareness and sensitisation remained critical to reducing mining-related deaths.

The former NMGS president also advocated the involvement of traditional rulers and religious leaders in educating mining communities about the dangers of unsafe and unregulated mining.

“We cannot, because of money, go and lose our lives. We encourage people to engage. Engagement must not stop,” he said.

He suggested that religious and traditional institutions could help government agencies communicate safety messages more effectively to people in mining communities.