Nigeria suspends NSCDC commander after 37 detainees die in Niger State

Minna, Nigeria. Authorities have suspended the commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State after 37 detainees died in custody following raids on suspected illegal gold mines.

The cause of the deaths has not been established and will be determined through medical examinations, the NSCDC said.

Deaths in custody

Reuters filmed 33 bodies in a ward at the General Hospital in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Thursday. State authorities said on Friday that 37 detainees had died.

The detainees had been held during raids on suspected illegal mines in the Wushishi-Lukoto area, west of Minna, on September 15 and 16, the NSCDC said.

The force initially said a suspected disease outbreak may have been involved, but later said the cause of death had not been established.

Investigation ordered

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered the immediate suspension of Niger State NSCDC commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye pending a full investigation.

“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Relatives raise allegations

Shafa’atu Suleiman, the mother of one of the detainees, told Reuters outside the hospital on Thursday that she had visited her son, Abdullahi, in detention and found him in a cramped NSCDC cell before later learning of his death.

She said officials had refused to allow relatives to bring food to detainees and had demanded 100,000 naira ($75) for their release.

NSCDC officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the allegations.

Protests in Minna

The deaths prompted protests in Minna on Thursday night, residents said. Youths chanted “Justice must be done”, while some protesters damaged vehicles.