By Miriam Humbe
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, has condemned the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the incident.
The victims were among scores of people 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 expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stressed that allegations of illegal mining cannot justify conditions that endanger the lives or dignity of people in state custody.
“Every person in the custody of the Nigerian State retains fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, dignity, and protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” the organisation said.
CISLAC acknowledged measures already announced by the authorities, including the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers, investigations by relevant government agencies, and directives for a full probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
However, the organisation said the measures would only be meaningful if the investigation is independent, transparent and capable of establishing responsibility.
CISLAC’s research shows that illegal mining and the exploitation of children are being fuelled by deep-rooted poverty, unemployment, poor access to education, insecurity, weak social protection, regulatory failures and inadequate enforcement of mining and child-labour laws.
These systemic failures continue to expose vulnerable families and children to dangerous, exploitative and unacceptable working conditions.
The organisation said the latest incident should therefore prompt not only an investigation into the deaths but also a broader review of the regulatory and enforcement systems governing mining activities and the protection of vulnerable communities.
CISLAC’s earlier research, Gold and Graves: Zamfara Lead Poisoning and the Failure of Regulatory Oversight, documented how weak regulation and unsafe mining practices in Zamfara exposed communities, particularly children, to grave health and human-rights consequences.
“More than a decade later, the lessons remain urgent: government must ensure effective regulation, accountability and protection of vulnerable mining communities,” CISLAC said.
The organisation called for the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission, civil society representatives and forensic experts in the investigation, with the findings, including relevant detention records and medical reports, made public.
It also demanded the prosecution of any officers or officials found to have contributed to the deaths through negligence, abuse of power or other unlawful conduct, noting that administrative sanctions alone would not be sufficient where criminal responsibility is established.
CISLAC further called for immediate improvements in 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 organisation urged the government to provide appropriate compensation, psychosocial support and other forms of redress to the families of the deceased and survivors, while reviewing the treatment of artisanal miners and the enforcement of mining regulations to address illegal mining without criminalising poverty.
“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,” CISLAC said.
The organisation said it would continue to monitor developments and engage relevant authorities to ensure that the incident results in meaningful institutional reforms, stronger regulatory oversight and accountability.
