Tragic Deaths of Miners: Seeking Justice

Sadly, 37 illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) overnight. This happened within 48 hours of their arrest in Niger State. This is shocking and terrible. It shows a sad truth about Nigeria, where the lives of ordinary people seem worthless.

The miners were part of a group of 65 arrested on September 15 and 16 during a raid on two illegal mining sites. They were kept in a small room without any ventilation. NSCDC officials told worried Nigerians that the miners died from an unknown disease. They did not provide any medical report to back this claim. Public protests by young people in the area forced the NSCDC to change its story.

Since then, the Presidency, Niger State Governor Bago, and NSCDC have all reacted quickly. Suberu Aniviye, the NSCDC Commander in the state, was suspended. Also, 24 officials from the agency were arrested and taken to Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu ordered a 10-member investigative panel to look into what led to this tragic event. He said, "Preliminary suspension of officials is merely an administrative step and cannot substitute for a full, crucial investigation where evidence warrants it." There is plenty of evidence to look at.

The president instructed the panel to investigate the conditions in the cell, the medical care given, and what happened before the deaths. From what is already known, it seems some NSCDC personnel may face prosecution for abuse and neglect.

At PREMIUM TIMES, we want more action to find out who owns the two mining sites where the 37 miners were arrested. It is also important to understand how NSCDC officials decided that a strange disease killed the miners all at once.

In our opinion, this seems like a cover-up for murder. The deceased miners may have been silenced to prevent them from sharing information about illegal mining in the Wushishi-Lukot area of Niger State. Thankfully, not all of them died, and the survivors have shared more details about the tragedy.

If the claims cannot be proven, then the federal government would be acting just for show. The dead miners were likely just workers, while the real illegal miners are the ones running these operations.

Dauda Shehu, one of the survivors, explained that something toxic was released into the cell. He said they suddenly found it hard to breathe and started yelling. Those who became victims fell one by one and died. Their cries for help went unheard by the NSCDC officials. Reports indicate that the victims died foaming at the mouth and bleeding from their nostrils.

Every suspect has the right to life and respect, as stated in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution. It says, "No one shall be intentionally deprived of their lives, except by the execution of a court sentence for a criminal offence they were found guilty of in Nigeria." This was not the case with the miners who died.

The government should compensate their families fairly. The owners of the mining sites should be named and face the law to prevent future tragedies. The government must show that it is not just pretending to act.

The problem of extrajudicial killings is serious in Nigeria, leading to many unnecessary deaths. This was a key issue during the violent #ENDSARS protests in August 2020. The Muhammadu Buhari government responded by disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which was known for disrespecting human life.

President Buhari said this was "the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a police system accountable to the Nigerian people." Sadly, this was just talk, as impunity in the police and now in the NSCDC continues.

With the unclear circumstances around the miners' deaths, both state and federal governments should reflect on their roles in this avoidable tragedy. According to Governor Bago, the 37 miners were teenagers aged between 14 and 18. So, why were they not in school? Nigeria has about 20 million out-of-school children, the highest in the world. Many miners turned to illegal mining because of poverty and hunger.

In the end, Nigeria failed these young people and led them to their untimely deaths due to poor governance. If Nigeria had properly managed its mining economy, illegal operators would not have taken over.

It is unfortunate that the focus is mainly on crude oil, which is easier to exploit and steal from. Australia, a top mining country, made about $385 billion in revenue in 2024 and 2025, according to its Department of Industry, Science and Resources. A sector with such large revenue can create many jobs and boost the economy.

But Nigeria refuses to maximize this sector, despite its potential. The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, needs to work harder to improve and formalize this sector to generate revenue and create jobs. If not, illegal mining operations will only grow stronger, leading to more tragedies like the one in Niger State.