Curfew imposed as anger grows over deaths in overcrowded cell; Amnesty International says at least two people were killed during protests.
Security forces fired shots and tear gas at protesters in Minna, Niger State, on Friday, as public anger grew over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets for a second day, with protests reported in Tunga, Maitumbi and along Bosso Road. Youths chanted “Justice must be done.” Some protesters attacked government facilities, including a transport agency office where buses and other vehicles were damaged. Footage reviewed by NOHR showed police officers apparently firing live rounds, though the circumstances were unclear. A witness told NOHR that bullets were used and that one body lay on the ground. Amnesty International said some protesters were shot and severely injured and that at least two people were reportedly killed. Governor Umar Bago imposed a 24-hour curfew on Friday. Violence subsided afterwards.
The miners were arrested on September 15 and 16 during raids in the Wushishi-Lukoto area, west of Minna. The NSCDC’s Niger State commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, said many of the detainees were found dead early on September 17, following a suspected disease outbreak. The corps has since said the cause of death is yet to be confirmed and that medical examinations will follow.
That account is contested. AFP reported seeing an intelligence document suggesting that poor ventilation and overcrowding may have been to blame, and some protesters told the Associated Press that the miners suffocated. Survivor Dauda Shehu said detainees were packed into the cell with no ventilation and that guards ignored their banging on the door.
Relatives also accuse the NSCDC of ignoring warnings that the cell was too small and that detainees were dying. One relative said he counted about 30 bodies and put the toll at no fewer than 33. Others said the corps has refused to release the remains, and a father said he saw his son’s body but was not given it. Al Jazeera, however, reported that all the dead were buried on Thursday evening, which raises doubts about whether post-mortem examinations can still be carried out.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has suspended Aniviye pending a full investigation. The ministry called the deaths unfortunate and promised a thorough inquiry.Amnesty International condemned the use of lethal force against protesters and called for an immediate, independent investigation, along with support and remedies for victims’ families. Niger State is rich in gold and uranium, and illegal mining is widespread in Nigeria and has been linked to violence among armed groups
