37 suspected illegal miners die in Nigerian custody; police probe, curfew in Minna

Thirty-seven people held in custody in north-central Nigeria on suspicion of illegal mining have died, officials say, in a case that has raised urgent questions about conditions inside a detention facility run by a paramilitary agency.

The deaths occurred at a centre operated by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger state. The agency, which is tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and tackling crimes including illegal mining, has blamed the deaths on an apparent disease outbreak and says an investigation is under way.

However, an intelligence report shared with the AFP news agency suggested the detainees died because of overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the facility. The two accounts differ, and no independent confirmation of the cause of death has been made public. Until a post-mortem examination and the police inquiry are completed, the exact cause remains unestablished.

According to officials, a group of young men was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of illegal mining near Borgu, an area of Niger state known for small-scale gold mining. NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi said more than 50 people were arrested and that they had not been charged because profiling and documentation were still being completed at the time of the deaths.

Two days after the arrests, 37 people were found dead inside the detention centre.

Abdullahi Dalhatu, the father of one of those detained, told the BBC that relatives had gone to the NSCDC office seeking the release of those held, but were repeatedly told to return later. "Unfortunately, the following day we got the news that our children had died," he said. He added: "We believe they suffocated because there was no ventilation." He said his son survived because he was near a small window, while his son's friend slumped and fainted and many others also collapsed.

News of the deaths sparked disturbances, including attacks on public buildings. Authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew in Minna, the state capital, in response.

The case has drawn attention to a wider issue: the treatment of suspects held in facilities run by agencies other than the police. Nigeria's constitution generally requires that a person arrested without a warrant be brought before a court within 48 hours, unless a court orders otherwise. Rights groups have for years raised concerns about overcrowding, delays in charging suspects and deaths in custody in Nigerian detention facilities.

Illegal mining is a sensitive subject in Nigeria. Small-scale gold mining provides a livelihood for many families in parts of Niger state, but authorities have intensified crackdowns in recent years, citing lost revenue, environmental damage and security risks, including alleged links to armed groups.

Police have opened an investigation into the deaths. Key questions are expected to include how many people were held in the cell, what medical care was available, and whether families were informed in time to seek help. Officials have not released a full list of the dead, nor details of the inquiry. The curfew in Minna remains in force.