Key facts
- 37 suspected illegal gold miners died in a prison cell in Minna, Nigeria.
- A survivor described overcrowding and lack of ventilation as causes.
At least 37 suspected illegal gold miners died in a crowded and poorly ventilated prison cell in Nigeria's Niger state. A survivor recounted a struggle for breath, while protests over the deaths were met with teargas and live rounds by security forces. An investigation has been launched, and the local NSCDC commandant suspended.
The deaths highlight severe human rights concerns and potential systemic failures in Nigeria's detention facilities, particularly in resource-rich regions attracting illegal mining. The violent response to protests and the alleged smuggling of gold to the UAE raise questions about governance, corruption, and the international flow of illicit commodities.
At least 37 suspected illegal gold miners died in a prison cell in Minna, Nigeria, with a survivor recounting panic and a struggle for breath due to overcrowding and inadequate ventilation. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which detained the miners during raids on September 15 and 16, initially blamed the deaths on a disease outbreak. However, an intelligence report seen by Agence France-Presse suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation were the likely causes.
Dauda Shehu, a survivor, told journalists that the cell was "jam-packed" with no ventilation, leading to a collective inability to breathe. Protests erupted in Minna over the deaths, with demonstrators, including miners and their relatives, gathering near the NSCDC office. Security forces responded by cordoning off the area, firing teargas, and, according to a Reuters witness, live rounds at protesters who were armed with sticks, machetes, and hunting rifles. Some protesters attempted to set fire to government buildings.
Nigeria's interior minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the suspension of the Niger state NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending a full investigation. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the death toll of 37, calling the event "so sad, it's so tragic," and declared three days of mourning. The men were buried on Thursday according to Islamic tradition without forensic investigation. Experts and officials note that the scramble for gold in Niger state fuels violence by criminal gangs who tax miners and demand a share of extracted ore. Much of this illegally mined gold is reportedly smuggled to the United Arab Emirates and laundered into the global supply chain.