The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has detained its suspended Niger State Commandant and 21 other officers in Abuja as investigations continue into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody.

The development marks a further step in the probe into the deaths, which occurred after the miners were arrested during enforcement operations in Niger State.

The detained personnel reportedly include officers who held key operational and investigative responsibilities, as well as those connected to the facility where the suspects were kept.

NSCDC spokesperson, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, confirmed that the officers were in custody, according to reports by Saturday Punch.

Miners: ‘There Were Blood, ‘Foam’ In Their Mouths, Burns On Body’ – Niger Gov

A senior NSCDC officer also told the publication that the suspended commandant, arresting officer, investigation officer and other personnel involved had arrived at the corps’ national headquarters in Abuja.

The detentions come after the Federal Government ordered a full investigation into the incident and suspended Niger State Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.

NSCDC Officers Face Questions Over Detention Conditions

Afolabi said those detained included the heads of the legal, intelligence and mining units, alongside the officer in charge of the detention facility where the suspected miners were held.

The NSCDC spokesperson added that the corps’ Intelligence Unit was questioning the officers as part of the ongoing investigation.

“Investigation is ongoing into the matter,” Afolabi said.

The inquiry is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the conditions under which the suspects were arrested and detained.

The 37 deaths were reported after NSCDC personnel arrested suspected illegal miners during operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto axis of Niger State on September 15 and 16.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of September 17. The NSCDC initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, while authorities have said the actual cause has yet to be conclusively established.

The incident has prompted investigations involving security agencies and the Niger State Government, alongside calls for accountability and clarification of what happened inside the detention facility.

Survivor Alleges Babangida Owns Mining Site

Meanwhile, a survivor of the incident, Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, has alleged that the mining site where the suspected miners worked belongs to former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

Nasera made the claim while recounting the arrest of the miners and the death of his 17-year-old brother, Salim, who was among those detained.

According to the survivor, the miners were arrested at the site and remained in custody for three days before the deaths were discovered.

Nasera also alleged that the miners had been told to stop working at the location, despite what he described as an instruction from the alleged owner that mining activities should continue.

The ownership claim remains an allegation made by the survivor and has not been independently established in the information provided. It should not be treated as confirmation that Babangida owns or controls the mining operation.

The allegation adds another dimension to the unfolding controversy, which has raised questions about mining enforcement, detention procedures and the treatment of suspects in security agency custody.

Investigation Continues

The NSCDC has maintained that the circumstances surrounding the deaths require a thorough investigation. The detention of the suspended commandant and other officers does not, by itself, establish individual responsibility or determine the cause of death.

Investigators are expected to examine the officers’ roles, the circumstances of the arrests, detention arrangements and any other evidence relevant to the case.

The incident has generated public concern in Niger State, where the deaths triggered protests and prompted the state government to announce emergency measures.

As the investigation proceeds, the central questions remain how 37 detainees died while in custody, whether detention procedures were followed and whether any officers breached the law or professional standards.

The NSCDC has yet to announce the outcome of its inquiry, while the survivor’s account and the allegation concerning the mine’s ownership remain matters requiring verification.