Nigerian forces fire at protesters rallying over deaths of detained miners

Security forces in Nigeria’s Niger State used tear gas and fired on demonstrators during a second day of protests after 37 people detained on suspicion of illegal mining died in custody, witnesses and officials said. Hundreds of protesters rallied in the state capital, Minna, with some attacking government buildings and damaging vehicles at a transport agency, according to reporters on the ground.

Officials announced that the 37 detainees died while held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) after arrests made earlier in raids in the Wushishi-Lukoto area. It was not immediately clear whether troops fired live rounds or non-lethal projectiles during the unrest; a Reuters witness said bullets were used and reported one body on the ground.

The NSCDC initially suggested the deaths might have been caused by an outbreak of disease but later said the cause remains unconfirmed and that further medical examinations would be carried out. An AFP intelligence report cited in coverage suggested overcrowding and poor cell ventilation could be factors, and some protesters and survivors told journalists the detainees had suffocated. Nevertheless, all the deceased were buried on Thursday evening, prompting questions about the viability of post-mortem examinations.

In response to the incident, Niger State governor Umar Bago imposed a 24-hour curfew and the federal Interior Ministry suspended the NSCDC commandant in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending a full investigation. The ministry said it would carry out a complete inquiry into the circumstances of the deaths. Niger State—home to significant gold and uranium deposits—has long faced challenges with illegal mining, which officials and analysts say can fuel competition and violence among armed groups.