Angry residents took to the streets of Minna on Thursday following the reported deaths of more than 30 young people detained by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps during a crackdown on suspected illegal mining.
The protests were reported in Maitumbi, Tudun Natsira, Berger and parts of Tunga, where demonstrators reportedly blocked major roads with tyres and stones, disrupting traffic and business activities in parts of the Niger State capital.
The protests followed the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners by NSCDC personnel during patrol operations conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.
At least 30 detainees were reportedly found dead on Thursday morning, triggering anger among residents and calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The NSCDC confirmed that scores of detained suspects had died but attributed the deaths to what it described as a suspected disease outbreak in its detention facility.
In a statement signed by the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyasa Aniviye, the corps said the arrests were made during a “burst operation” conducted on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining in the state.
“The operation yielded significant results, with scores of suspected illegal miners arrested and various exhibits recovered. However, in the early hours of 17th September, 2026, scores of the detained suspects were found dead, following a suspected outbreak of disease,” the statement said.
The NSCDC did not disclose the exact number of detainees who died in the incident in the statement, while details about the suspected disease and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remained unclear.
Residents, however, have alleged that the death toll could be as high as 42, although the figure could not be independently verified.
The reports of the deaths prompted protests across several parts of Minna, with residents demanding answers from the authorities and calling for an investigation into what happened to the detainees while they were in custody.
A resident of Anguwan Daji, identified as Qasim, who witnessed the protest in Maitumbi, said the development generated widespread anger among residents.
“People blocked the roads with tyres and stones. The anger was everywhere. Everyone was shouting about the deaths,” he said.
Another resident, Nura Ibrahim, said he visited a hospital where the bodies were reportedly taken following the incident.
In a video shared with HumAngle, about 30 teenage boys and young men were seen lying lifeless on a tarpaulin, with many of them without shirts.
“It was heartbreaking. I saw them with my own eyes lying lifeless. This is not fair. There are no jobs, and these boys avoided gang violence to hustle for sustenance, yet they are dead,” Ibrahim said.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths could not be independently established as of Thursday, while the identities of the deceased and the precise number of people who died were also not immediately made public.
Residents and activists have consequently called on the authorities to provide a clear account of the incident, with demands for an urgent and transparent investigation into the deaths.
The incident has also renewed attention on illegal mining activities in and around Minna metropolis, where illicit gold mining has reportedly become a source of tension among young people competing for control of mining locations.
Illegal mining remains a concern in several parts of Niger State, with authorities carrying out operations aimed at arresting suspected illegal miners and disrupting activities considered harmful to the environment and public safety.
Previous reporting has also highlighted the involvement of children in mining activities in the area, with some reportedly leaving school to engage in hazardous mining activities.
The latest incident has therefore raised questions not only about illegal mining and the conditions in which young people engage in the activity but also about the treatment and safety of suspects detained during enforcement operations.
The Niger State Government had yet to publicly comment on the deaths as of Thursday.
The NSCDC had also not provided further details on the suspected disease outbreak, including the nature of the illness, the number of detainees affected, whether medical personnel had examined the victims, or the identities and circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Further clarification from the authorities is expected to be important in establishing the number of people who died, the cause of the deaths and the circumstances in which they occurred.
West Trybe reports that the deaths occurred after an NSCDC operation targeting suspected illegal miners in Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026, with the corps attributing the fatalities to a suspected disease outbreak while residents and activists are demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the incident.
