A sense of panic and a desperate struggle for oxygen defined the final hours for 37 detainees who died inside a detention facility in Minna, Nigeria, earlier this week. The individuals, primarily suspected of participating in illegal gold mining, were held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) when they lost their lives.
As news of the deaths emerged, widespread unrest gripped the capital of Niger state. On Friday, police deployed teargas to disperse demonstrators protesting the incident, while an overnight curfew was enforced to maintain order. The victims, ranging from 14 to 18 years old, had been apprehended during raids on artisanal mines in the Wushishi-Lukoto area on September 15 and 16.
Survivors have provided harrowing accounts of the conditions within the cell. Dauda Shehu, who survived the ordeal, described the space as being dangerously overcrowded, stating, “We were jam-packed in the cell, no ventilation for us to breathe well.” He explained that as the air grew thin, the detainees banged on the door and pleaded with guards, yet their cries for help went unheeded. Another survivor, who requested anonymity, recalled, “We were screaming for help,” as inmates realized they were dying one by one.
While the NSCDC initially attributed the mass casualty event to a disease outbreak, intelligence reports reviewed by investigators point toward extreme overcrowding and a lack of proper ventilation as the primary causes. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the death toll of 37 and emphasized the tragedy of child labor in the region, noting, “There are issues of illegal mining and it is taking a toll on our children.”
In response to the deaths, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated a formal investigation. The federal government has also suspended Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the NSCDC commandant for Niger state, pending the outcome of the inquiry. The deceased were buried on Thursday following Islamic customs, which precluded forensic examinations of the bodies.
The tragedy triggered violent demonstrations in Minna on Thursday evening and throughout Friday. Protesters, some armed with traditional weapons, gathered near the NSCDC office to demand accountability. Security forces were observed firing live rounds during the clashes, and some demonstrators attempted to set fire to local government structures. One demonstrator, Yusuf Auwal, asserted that they were simply trying to earn a livelihood through mining.
Governor Bago has declared three days of mourning and postponed upcoming election campaign activities to address the situation. Security forces managed to restore temporary stability by the 6 p.m. curfew on Friday.
The region remains a significant hub for mineral extraction, including gold, tantalite, copper, and lithium. However, the industry is marred by the influence of criminal gangs that tax miners to access pits. A 2024 Swissaid report noted that much of the gold extracted from these illegal operations is smuggled to the United Arab Emirates, where it is laundered and integrated into global markets across Europe, Asia, South Africa, and the United States. The report also notes that however, an intelligence report seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP) said preliminary information suggested that overcrowding and inadequate ventilation were responsible. The report also notes that we even appealed to them several times, banged the cell door, but they refused to answer us.”, all of a sudden we realised that we could not breathe and we were all scampering for where to get fresh air. The report also notes that most of whom appeared to be teenagers, sprawled on the ground out in the open, a video shared online showed the bodies of dozens of young men clad only in shorts. The report also notes that while veiled women try to identify the bodies of their relatives, volunteers wearing gloves can be seen standing over the dead. The report also notes that voices shouting curses on those responsible can be heard in the background. The report also notes that some protesters tried to set fire to government buildings in the Tunga neighbourhood. “We are not thieves – we are simply seeking a way to make a living by mining,” Yusuf Auwal, a miner who joined the protesters, told Reuters.
