President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following enforcement operations around Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, Niger State.
The President, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the life of every Nigerian matters and that no citizen should lose his life while in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
Tinubu expressed deep concern over the reported deaths, describing the development as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
“While the Federal Government would continue to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities across the country, enforcement operations must be conducted strictly within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person in custody,” the President said.
He stressed that the status of the deceased as suspected illegal miners did not strip them of their fundamental rights while in government custody.
“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody,” Tinubu said.
“Government will not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care.”
The President further directed that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should face criminal prosecution where the evidence establishes responsibility.
“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, such an officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability,” he said.
Tinubu directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, transparent and unhindered.
According to him, the probe must cover the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the number of people held in the facility, the medical attention provided to them and the events that led to their deaths.
The President also cautioned that the suspension of officers involved in the incident should not be treated as a substitute for determining whether any of them bear criminal responsibility.
“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” Tinubu said.
He directed the Ministry of Interior and the leadership of the NSCDC to cooperate fully with all relevant investigative authorities.
The President also ordered that no officer should interfere with the investigation or attempt to frustrate efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The directive follows the reported deaths of suspected illegal miners who were detained by NSCDC personnel after enforcement operations in the Minna area of Niger State.
Tinubu maintained that while the government would continue to enforce laws against illegal mining and other criminal activities, such enforcement must itself be carried out within the law.
“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” he said.
The President extended his condolences to the families of those who died and prayed for the repose of their souls.
He also appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the tragedy, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.
Earlier, MJConcept TV News reported that the Nigerian government ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the alleged deaths of suspected illegal miners in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The suspension was ordered by the Federal Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, after reports emerged of the deaths of some suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in the state.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, days after the suspects were arrested during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, the minister directed that a full investigation be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths.
The suspension of Aniviye, according to the minister, would remain in place while the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The minister said the Government’s priority remained the protection of lives, stressing that the Federal Government had consistently worked towards achieving that objective.
“We run a Government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” he declared.
The reported deaths have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the treatment of the suspected illegal miners following their arrest during enforcement activities in the state.
However, the Federal Government did not provide further details on the number of people who allegedly died, the identities of the deceased or the immediate circumstances that led to their deaths.
The minister’s directive means that the Niger State NSCDC commandant will remain suspended while relevant authorities examine the events leading to the reported casualties.
Earlier, MJConcept TV News reported that no fewer than 33 suspected illegal miners were feared dead after they were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Minna, Niger State, following an operation against illegal mining activities in the state.
The suspects were arrested during a September 15 and 16 operation and detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.
The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, after a suspected disease outbreak among the detainees.