The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria's chapter of Transparency International, has condemned the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger state. CISLAC's Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stressed that allegations of illegal mining could not justify conditions that endanger the lives or dignity of people in state custody.
The victims were among scores of people arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026. Their deaths were discovered in the early hours of September 17. CISLAC acknowledged measures already announced by the authorities, including the suspension of the Niger state NSCDC Commandant and other officers, investigations by relevant government agencies, and directives for a full probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
CISLAC demanded an independent and transparent investigation into the incident, stressing that the measures would only be meaningful if the investigation was capable of establishing responsibility. The organisation argued that research showed that illegal mining and the exploitation of children are being fuelled by deep-rooted poverty, unemployment, poor access to education, insecurity, weak social protection, regulatory failures and inadequate enforcement of mining and child-labour laws.
According to CISLAC, the latest incident should prompt not only an investigation into the deaths but also a broader review of the regulatory and enforcement systems governing mining activities and the protection of vulnerable communities. CISLAC's earlier research, Gold and Graves: Zamfara Lead Poisoning and the Failure of Regulatory Oversight, documented how weak regulation and unsafe mining practices in Zamfara exposed communities, particularly children, to grave health and human-rights consequences.
CISLAC called for the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission, civil society representatives and forensic experts in the investigation, with the findings, including relevant detention records and medical reports, made public. The organisation also demanded the prosecution of any officers or officials found to have contributed to the deaths through negligence, abuse of power or other unlawful conduct.
The organisation further called for immediate improvements in detention conditions nationwide, including adequate ventilation, access to medical care, food and water, as well as compliance with established capacity and human-rights standards. CISLAC urged the government to provide appropriate compensation, psychosocial support and other forms of redress to the families of the deceased and survivors.
CISLAC said it would continue to monitor developments and engage relevant authorities to ensure that the incident results in meaningful institutional reforms, stronger regulatory oversight and accountability. The organisation emphasised that the Nigerian state has a sacred duty to protect the lives of all citizens, including those in its custody, and that anything less erodes public trust and the rule of law.
Key points
- CISLAC demands independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody
- The organisation calls for the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission and civil society representatives in the investigation
- CISLAC urges the government to provide compensation and support to the families of the deceased and survivors
