The Niger State Police Command has commenced investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, ordered the investigation following the incident which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, persons arrested over alleged illegal mining were found dead while in detention at the NSCDC Niger State Command.

The Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Minna, to take charge of the investigation and establish the circumstances surrounding the death.
The command urged family members, relatives and members of the public with credible information that could assist the investigation to come forward and provide such information to the SCID, Minna.

Elleman also appealed for calm and urged residents, relatives and acquaintances of the deceased to remain law-abiding and cooperate with the investigation.

He assured the public that the command would thoroughly investigate the incident to determine the cause of the deaths.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability in the discharge of statutory responsibilities by law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following reports of the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Minna, the Niger State capital.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the suspension on Friday, September 18, 2026, and directed that a full investigation be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the reported deaths occurred in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna in the early hours of Thursday.

The Federal Government said the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be investigated, with the Niger State NSCDC Commandant remaining suspended pending the outcome of the process.

“It is an unfortunate incident; however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the minister said.

Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that the protection of lives remains a priority, stressing that the investigation would be allowed to proceed.

“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” he added.

The minister appealed to members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is conducted, noting the importance of allowing the process to take place transparently.

He also expressed condolences to the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of those who reportedly died in the incident.

At least 33 suspected illegal miners arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State have allegedly died following a suspected disease outbreak.

The NSCDC Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

It was gathered the deceased were among suspected illegal miners arrested during an operation conducted by the NSCDC in the state.

The NSCDC Niger State commandant said scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during an operation on September 15 and 16 at M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto village by the command have died due to suspected disease outbreak.

Aniyiye said the operation was carried out as part of the command’s renewed efforts to rid the state of illegal mining activities and resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and recovery of various exhibits.

However, the commandant stated that in the early hours of September 17, scores of the detained suspects were found dead.

The NSCDC said the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.

The command explained that it is working in synergy with sister security agencies to manage the situation and appealed to members of the public and families of the deceased to remain calm and desist from any actions capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to the enforcement of human rights and international human rights charters while carrying out its mandate of protecting lives and property as well as critical national assets and infrastructure.

Three boat drivers desperate to leave Nigeria in search of better economic opportunities in Germany ended inside the cramped propeller compartment of a merchant vessel, where they were intercepted by the Nigerian Navy.

The three suspects, Isaiah Oyetayo, 30; Goddey Ajinde Samson, 26; and Popoola Felix, 28, were arrested after allegedly sneaking aboard the MV Maersk Calabar at Apapa Port and hiding inside its propeller compartment.

Report says The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft on Wednesday, handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation.

The suspects reportedly used a canoe to gain access to the vessel while it was at the port before concealing themselves in the propeller compartment. Their presence was discovered after the ship got underway, prompting the intervention of NNS Beecroft.

According to the Navy, the suspects were intercepted following a tip-off from the Western Regional Control Centre. The ship’s Quick Reaction Team stationed at Tarkwa Bay moved in, intercepted the vessel and safely extracted the men from the compartment.

They were subsequently taken to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation and profiling before being handed over to the NIS.

For Popoola, a boat driver and father of four, the decision to risk his life aboard a moving merchant vessel was driven by what he described as the struggle to survive in Nigeria.

He said he was heading to Germany in search of better economic opportunities, explaining that the rising cost of living had made it increasingly difficult to provide for his family.

According to him, his desperation pushed him to consider unconventional means of leaving the country, including using a paddle boat to gain access to the merchant vessel.

Goddey, also a boat driver and married, said he took the risk because he hoped to secure a better future for himself and his family.

He said the desire for improved living conditions persuaded him to embark on the dangerous journey, despite the risks involved in hiding aboard a vessel at sea.

Oyetayo, another boat driver, similarly said his decision was driven by the search for a better life and greater economic opportunities abroad.

The Navy said the incident underscored the dangers associated with unauthorised access to seagoing vessels, warning that such acts could endanger not only those attempting illegal migration but also vessels, crews and other maritime users.

The handover, carried out on behalf of the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, by the Executive Officer, Captain Olanrewaju Olubunmi, also highlighted continued collaboration among security agencies in tackling illegal migration and strengthening maritime security.

The Navy urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage youths from undertaking dangerous journeys by sea and to sensitise them to the potentially fatal consequences.

It warned that the risks posed by such activities could extend beyond individual migrants to maritime safety and security across the West African sub-region.