Violent protests have erupted in the Nigerian city of Minna following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal gold miners while in the custody of a paramilitary group. Security forces fired teargas and live ammunition on Friday to disperse crowds of demonstrators demanding justice.
The victims had been detained during raids on September 15 and 16 in the Wushishi-Lukoto area, west of Minna, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). While the paramilitary group initially blamed the fatalities on a disease outbreak, an intelligence report indicated that overcrowding and a lack of proper ventilation in the cell were the actual causes of death.
Dauda Shehu, a survivor of the ordeal, described the harrowing conditions from his hospital bed. "We were jam-packed in the cell, no ventilation for us to breathe well," Shehu said. "All of a sudden we realised that we could not breathe and we were all scampering for where to get fresh air, we even appealed to them several times, banged the cell door, but they refused to answer us."
Video footage circulating online showed the bodies of dozens of young men, many appearing to be teenagers, wearing only shorts and laid out in the open. Relatives and volunteers wearing gloves attempted to identify the deceased while onlookers shouted curses at those responsible. The deaths triggered demonstrations starting Thursday evening, escalating on Friday as miners and relatives gathered near the NSCDC office. Protesters, some armed with sticks, machetes, and traditional hunting rifles, clashed with security forces. Some demonstrators attempted to set fire to government buildings in the Tunga neighborhood, and at least one body was seen lying in the street as soldiers and police patrolled the area to restore order.
"We are not thieves – we are simply seeking a way to make a living by mining," said Yusuf Auwal, a miner participating in the protests.
In response to the tragedy, Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension of Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the NSCDC commandant for Niger state, pending an investigation. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the death toll of 37, calling the incident tragic and announcing that an official inquiry has begun. Bago declared three days of mourning and postponed the start of upcoming election campaigning, which was scheduled ahead of January elections. The deceased were buried on Thursday in accordance with Islamic tradition, without undergoing forensic examinations.
Niger state is the largest state in Nigeria and is more than twice the size of Belgium. It is rich in minerals, particularly gold, which draws thousands of artisanal miners. However, the scramble for gold has also fueled violence by criminal gangs who tax the miners and demand a share of the extracted ore. Much of this illegally mined gold is smuggled to the United Arab Emirates before being laundered into global supply chains across Europe, the United States, Asia, and South Africa, according to a 2024 Swissaid report. Beyond gold, the region also contains valuable deposits of tantalite, copper, and lithium, which are highly sought after for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
However, an intelligence report seen by Agence France-Presse said preliminary information suggested that overcrowding and inadequate ventilation were responsible.
A video shared online showed the bodies of dozens of young men clad only in shorts, most of whom appeared to be teenagers, sprawled on the ground out in the open. Volunteers wearing gloves can be seen standing over the dead, while veiled women try to identify the bodies of their relatives. Voices shouting curses on those responsible can be heard in the background.
