By Palma Ileye
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The victims were among persons arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026. Their deaths were discovered in the early hours of September 17.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
The organisation said allegations of illegal mining could not justify any treatment that endangered the lives or dignity of persons in state custody.
CISLAC acknowledged measures already taken by the authorities, including the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers, as well as directives for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
However, the organisation said the probe must be independent and transparent, with the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission, civil society representatives and forensic experts.
It also called for the publication of relevant detention records, medical reports and findings of the investigation, urging that any officer or official found culpable through negligence, abuse of power or other unlawful conduct should face prosecution.
CISLAC further called for improved detention conditions nationwide, including adequate ventilation, access to medical care, food and water, as well as compliance with established capacity and human-rights standards.
The group said the incident should also trigger a broader review of Nigeria’s mining regulatory and enforcement systems, noting that poverty, unemployment, poor access to education, insecurity and weak social protection contribute to illegal mining and child exploitation.
It referenced its earlier research, Gold and Graves: Zamfara Lead Poisoning and the Failure of Regulatory Oversight, which documented the health and human-rights consequences of unsafe mining practices and weak regulatory oversight in Zamfara State.
CISLAC urged the government to provide compensation, psychosocial support and other forms of redress to the families of the deceased and survivors, while reviewing the treatment of artisanal miners and enforcement of mining regulations.
“The Nigerian State has a sacred duty to protect the lives of all citizens, including those in its custody. Anything less erodes public trust and the rule of law,” the organisation said.
CISLAC said it would continue to monitor the investigation and engage relevant authorities to ensure that the incident leads to institutional reforms, stronger regulatory oversight and accountability.
