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The identities of 37 alleged illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Niger state have been released, days after their deaths sparked public outrage, protests and calls for an independent investigation into what happened inside the detention facility.
The victims were among suspects arrested during anti-illegal mining operations conducted around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate and Lukoto areas of Minna, the Niger State capital, on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The NSCDC had initially said that some of the detained suspects had been found dead in the early hours of September 17 following what was described at the time as a suspected outbreak. Project reports
The list of names was released by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
Awaisu Giwa, the organisation’s international peace ambassador, said the initial list was obtained from Minna General Hospital records, while relatives of some of the deceased later provided four additional names.
The identities are being made public as the federal government and NSCDC investigate the circumstances of the deaths.
Complete list of deceased
The 37 widespread names are:
Ibrahim Sani
Fahad Sa’adu
Abdulsalam Ismail
Usman Aliyu
Abubakar Alhaji
Sani Nasir
Sanusi Khalid
Ahmad Aliyu
Safiyanu Abdullahi
Suleiman Dantala
Idris Haruna
Sani Yakubu
Safiyanu Abubakar
Abdullah Abubakar
Abubakar Musa
Abdul Mudassir
Suleiman Lawal
Usman Abdullahi
Samuel Sambo
Ibrahim Musa
Yusuf Nasiru
Umar Lawal
Isyaku Amisu
Bissallah Adamu
Abdulbari Suleiman
Shafisu Lado
Usman Ahmad
Usman Ibrahim
Sani Isyaku
Musa Ibrahim
Idris Bashir
Kabiru Suleiman
Emanuele Emeka
Mu’awiya Abdul Karim
Abdul Gafar Abubakar
Usman Haruna
Yaro Salihu Soba.
According to information accompanying the list, Mu’awiya AbdulKarim, Abdul Gafar Abubakar, Usman Haruna and Yaro Salihu Soba were not included in the general hospital list and were added through information provided by relatives. The distinction is important because the identities are still being formally reconciled as part of the investigation into the crash.
The arrests preceded the deaths in detention
The deaths followed an NSCDC operation against suspected illegal mining activities in and around Minna. The force said the September 15 and 16 operations were part of efforts to rid Niger State of illegal mining and that the suspects were arrested during the exercise.
NSCDC authorities initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, accounts from survivors and relatives have raised questions about the conditions in which the suspects were detained, including allegations of severe overcrowding and inadequate ventilation.
Reuters reported that many of the detainees were teenagers aged 14 to 18, and that survivors described conditions in which detainees struggled to breathe. Families also reported mistreatment and other forms of abuse. These allegations have not been proven as fact and are among the issues that are expected to be examined by the ongoing investigation.
The conflicting accounts have made determining the precise cause of death a central part of the investigation. The government has not publicly determined that the deaths were due to any particular cause pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The government orders a thorough investigation
The deaths prompted the federal government to act, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directing a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, subsequently announced the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commander, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and 20 other personnel linked to the detention and arrest operations, pending the outcome of investigations.
The government also set up a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths.
The committee is chaired by a former Director General of the Nigerian Faculty of Law, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, while other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Prof. Olayinka Buhari, representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, Human Rights Lawyer Deji Adeyanju, Blueprint Newspapers Representative Zainab Suleiman Okino and Public Affairs Analyst Dr. George Agbakahi.
The committee was given two weeks to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and make recommendations. Its mandate includes establishing the identity of the deceased, examining the circumstances of their arrest and detention, determining the cause of death and identifying any liability or negligence, with recommendations for appropriate action and compensation where necessary.
NSCDC places 24 staff members in custody
The NSCDC has also taken additional internal actions as the investigation intensifies. The number of people detained in connection with the incident has risen to 24, including the suspended Niger State commander.
Those listed include officers responsible for intelligence and investigations, operations, legal duties, arrest operations and supervision of the detention facility. The list also includes security personnel at the facility.
The development came after the previous suspension of 20 officers announced by the Home Office.
The NSCDC said staff found guilty will face appropriate disciplinary measures and prosecution where necessary.
Suberu Aniviye, who was the Niger State commander at the time of the arrests and deaths, has since been replaced by Abdulhamid Kabara, who took over as the new commander amid growing public concern over the incident.
The deaths spark protests in Minna
The deaths triggered protests in Minna, with demonstrators demanding answers about the circumstances surrounding the miners’ detention and deaths.
The protests then turned violent, leading authorities to impose a curfew in the Niger state capital. Security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters who had gathered around the NSCDC office, while at least one protester was reportedly killed during the unrest.
The incident then developed beyond a dispute over illegal mining to a broader issue of public accountability involving conditions of detention, treatment of suspects, and the responsibility of security personnel in custody.
The families are waiting for answers
For the families of the 37 deceased people, the publication of the names represents an important step towards identifying their relatives and clarifying who died during the detention operation.
The IHRC said the list will also aid compensation efforts for affected families. However, questions remain about the individual circumstances of each death, the conditions in which detainees were held, and whether established detention procedures were followed.
The federal government has appealed for calm as the investigation continues, while the Interior Ministry has ordered relevant authorities to cooperate fully with the independent panel.
The investigation is now expected to establish not only the cause of death, but also what happened from the time the miners were arrested during the operations on September 15 and 16 until the discovery of the bodies on September 17. Until those findings are made public, allegations related to the deaths will remain under investigation.
The publication of the 37 names consequently placed individual identities in a tragedy that had previously been told largely through numbers.
As the investigation progresses, families and the general public are expected to look to the Government for a clear account of what happened, accountability where wrongdoing is established and adequate compensation for those affected.
