Niger Governor Investigates Deaths of 37 Miners in Custody

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago addressed the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during a live interview on Channels Television. He noted that the accounts of survivors alleging that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside the detention facility cannot be ruled out pending investigations.

The NSCDC initially suggested a disease outbreak as the cause of death but later clarified that the actual cause remains undetermined and will be established through medical and laboratory examinations. Governor Bago mentioned that factors such as possible suffocation due to overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances are being considered.

He reported that some victims exhibited severe symptoms, including vomiting blood and foam around their mouths, with visible cuts on their skin. Bago emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the conditions of detention and the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which will involve medical and forensic examinations.