NEWS
How Can 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in Gov’t Custody? Nigerians Demand Answers
How can 37 suspected illegal miners arrested by security operatives die while in government custody within just days of their detention?
That is the question Nigerians and the families of the deceased are demanding answers to following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The suspects were arrested during enforcement operations conducted by the Niger State NSCDC Command on September 15 and 16 around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal mining.
SEE ALSO: EFCC Arrests 13 Suspected Illegal Miners In Abuja
According to the NSCDC, the operation led to the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
However, in the early hours of September 17, several of the detained suspects were found dead.
The Niger State NSCDC Command initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, saying the corpses had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
The national headquarters later stressed that no specific disease had been medically confirmed as the cause.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths have nevertheless raised serious questions about what happened inside the detention facility.
A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that 65 detainees were held in a poorly ventilated cell and alleged that those inside struggled to breathe.
He said detainees attempted to attract the attention of guards by banging on the cell door.
The account has raised questions about overcrowding, ventilation and the response to the detainees’ distress, although it has not independently established the cause of death.
An intelligence report cited by AFP also suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation may have contributed to the deaths, while officials have continued to point to a possible disease outbreak.
The precise cause therefore remains a matter for medical examination and investigation.
The NSCDC has launched an investigation into the incident, with a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation directed to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Niger State Police Command has also opened a separate investigation and appealed for credible information that could assist investigators in determining what happened.
The matter has now escalated at the federal level.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and directed a full investigation into the incident.
The suspension is pending the outcome of the investigation.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago also confirmed the deaths, announced three days of mourning and constituted a panel of inquiry into the incident.
The state subsequently cancelled an APC political rally scheduled for September 19 in Minna following the tragedy.
But beyond the investigations, Nigerians need answers.
The families of the deceased need answers.
How many people were held in the facility? What condition were the suspects in when they were arrested? How were they monitored while in custody? When did signs of illness or distress first become apparent? Were routine checks carried out? Was medical assistance sought, and how quickly was it provided?
Most importantly, what happened between the suspects’ arrest and the discovery of their bodies?
These questions cannot be answered by condolences alone.
The families deserve a clear account of how their loved ones died, backed by medical findings, evidence and a transparent timeline of events.
For many Nigerians, the incident raises an even broader question. With insecurity already making many citizens feel unsafe in their homes, communities and on the roads, the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in government custody raise another disturbing concern: if people are not guaranteed safety even after being arrested and placed under the protection of the state, where exactly is safe in Nigeria?
Whatever the eventual findings, the death of 37 people while in government custody demands a thorough and credible investigation and if the investigation establishes that any individual or institution failed in its responsibility, appropriate accountability should follow.
For now, the exact cause of the deaths remains unconfirmed, with medical examinations and investigations expected to provide answers.
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of six nominees for executive director positions at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation, retaining three existing directors while introducing three new nominees.
The nominations were conveyed to the Senate in a letter from the President, according to a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The six nominees comprise three executive directors seeking reappointment and three new candidates proposed for different leadership positions within the petroleum regulatory agency.
SEE ALSO: Tinubu Promises to Boost Local Production with NNPC Refineries
The officials nominated for reappointment are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director of Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community.
The three new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, proposed as Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, nominated as Executive Director of Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, nominated as Executive Director of Corporate Services and Administration.
If confirmed by the Senate, all six nominees will serve five-year terms.
President Tinubu urged the lawmakers to consider the nominations expeditiously, stating that the appointments would ensure institutional continuity and strengthen the Authority’s oversight capacity.
In a related development, the President has approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser of the NMDPRA.
Her appointment is subject to the completion of the statutory processes stipulated under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The latest nominations follow Tinubu’s appointment of Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA in April.
The Senate’s consideration and confirmation of the six nominees will determine their formal appointment to the respective executive director positions.
In the bid to improve environmental sanitation, the Osun State Government plans to engage with immediate effect, able-bodied men and women as ad hoc road sweepers.
Biztellers reports that the exercise would cover designated areas of the state.
The recruitment exercise, announced by the Osun State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation (OSTES) is open to medically fit able bodied men and women who are residents of the areas where they intend to work.
According to the public service announcement, applicants must be at least 30 years of age, medically fit and resident in their preferred areas of assignment.
READ ALSO: US Hails DPRP as Nigeria’s Petroleum Exports Surge Seven Times
The designated areas mentioned by the Taskforce include Akoda- Abere, Ataoja -Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya -Old Garage, Igbonna -Ayetoro, Power Line – Ota-Efun and Kobongbogboe.
Other areas covered by the exercise are Ataoja- Dele Yes Sir, Stadium- Testing Ground and Ilesa- Garage, as well as Oke-Fia -Dada Estate, Dele Yes Sir- Lameco and Oroki Housing Estate.
Interested applicants are required to submit application letters to the General Manager, Osun Waste Management Agency, at its office located at the former Boreepo House, West Bye-Pass, Ring Road, Osogbo.
The announcement further stated that the deadline for submission of applications is Thursday, November 12th, 2026.
The recruitment is expected to support routine road sweeping and complement the state’s efforts to promote a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.
Applicants have been advised to ensure that they meet the stated requirements and reside within the areas where they seek to be deployed.
It would be recalled that the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had earlier declared every Thursday of the week as Environmental Sanitation Day throughout the state during which offices, markets, shopping malls and homes among other public places are to be swept clean between 8am and 10am.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said it has sponsored nearly 15,000 Nigerians for studies at home and abroad, with 1,571 scholars currently studying in 15 countries, as of July 2026.
This is as the Fund is now asking the United Kingdom (UK) to help address visa rejections, high tuition fees and the monitoring of its scholars, which it says are putting pressure on the programme.
The executive secretary of the Fund, Prof Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, made the request on Tuesday at a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles. The meeting was held at the General Shehu Musa Yar’adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, Kaduna.
According to Aliyu, the Fund had sponsored the beneficiaries through its Overseas Scholarship Scheme and In-Country Scholarship Scheme, for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
He said that as of July 2026, 1,571 scholars were studying in 15 countries and more than 120 partner institutions. He added that demand for PTDF scholarships was still rising.
READ MORE: Investors Embrace DPRP IPO Globally, 120 Countries, 54 African Nations
The executive secretary said the UK had for decades been the Fund’s main partner in building skills for Nigeria’s energy sector.
He said the PTDF worked with 24 British universities, including Robert Gordon, Strathclyde, Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester.
He said the partnership had helped train thousands of Nigerian engineers, geoscientists, researchers and energy professionals.
Aliyu also said the Fund worked with institutions in Germany, France and Malaysia, where it sought cheaper ways to train Nigerians. He said the Fund still wanted to keep its long-standing ties with the UK.
The ES told the High Commissioner that the Fund was facing problems with its UK partners. He listed these as tuition fees that were high compared with other European countries, and visa rejections.
“I would like to take this opportunity to highlight several challenges we are facing with our UK partners for the High Commissioner’s attention,” he said.
He said the Fund also wanted a plan to monitor its scholars in the UK, with support from the UK government and the host universities.
Aliyu did not give figures for the fee increases or the number of visa rejections.
In response, Vowles said the British High Commission understood the difficulties, especially those linked to visas and increases in tuition fees.
“We will take these concerns away as a team and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders within the UK system,” he said.
The High Commissioner said the PTDF and the High Commission had worked together to simplify the process. He said the PTDF’s recognition as a government-approved sponsor was expected to help.
“Having the PTDF recognised as a government-approved sponsor will hopefully make the process much smoother,” he said.
He did not promise any change in fees or visa rules.
Guinness Nigeria CEO Shares Sustainable Growth Strategy
Tinubu Sends Six NMDPRA Executive Director Nominees to Senate, Retains Three
Osun Tackles Sanitation with Adhoc Road Sweepers
NLNG: Nigeria’s Oil Ambitions Require Investor Guarantees
OTL Africa Urges ECOWAS to Adopt Regional Standardisation
No Deal to Share Legislative or LG Seats with APC – Adeleke
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart