NSCDC Faces Outrage After 37 Detainees Die in Custody

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) experienced a significant tragedy in Minna, Niger State, when 37 detained suspects were found dead following a burst operation conducted on 15th and 16th September, 2026, aimed at combating illegal mining activities. The operation reportedly led to the arrest of numerous suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.

However, the aftermath revealed that scores of detainees had died in custody, prompting outrage. Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the NSCDC's Niger State Commandant, issued a statement attributing the deaths to a "suspected outbreak of disease," which has been criticized as an inadequate explanation for the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

This incident marks the worst tragedy in official custodial hands in Nigeria since March 1980, when fifty suspects suffocated in a police van. The situation has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of detainees and the accountability of the NSCDC.