Nigerian police probe death in custody of 37 illegal mining suspects

Nigerian officials blame disease outbreak for deaths as survivor suggests they suffocated.Published On 18 Sep 202618 Sep 2026Nigerian police have launched an investigation into the deaths of 37 people who were in custody after being arrested for illegal mining.Officials on Thursday linked the deaths to an outbreak of disease. However, the AFP news agency said that an intelligence report suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) detention facility in the northeastern Niger State may have been to blame.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘It helps us survive’: Poverty forces children into mine work in DR Congolist 2 of 3South Africa mine collapse kills 14 suspected illegal minerslist 3 of 3At least 37 killed in Nigeria mine carbon monoxide poisoning: Reportsend of listThe suspects were arrested during an operation targeting illegal mining on Tuesday and Wednesday, the head of the NSCDC in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, said in a statement. The region is known for small-scale gold mining.Officials suspect disease was the cause of the deaths, Aniviye said, noting the bodies have been sent for “further med...