The Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Communities in Nigeria (FNMHC) has called for an independent investigation and full forensic determination of the cause of death of 37 persons in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State

Besides , the group stated that the authorities must preserve and examine all available evidence capable of establishing what occurred from the time of the victims’ arrest to the discovery of their bodies, including the circumstances and conditions of their detention.

A statement signed by Dr. Temitope Olaifa and Abubakar Wushishion behalf of (FNMHC) and made available to The Guardian in Abuja, expresses grave concern over their victims demise reportedly arrested on 15th and 16th September 2026 around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna and subsequently detained at NSCDC facility.

According to them,their deaths were discovered in the early hours of 17th Sept and, the Niger State Police Command has also commenced an investigation. We applaud the Federal Government’s suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.

It urged that Nigeria must address the conditions that allow dangerous and informal mining to persist, while ensuring that mining operations, whether formal or informal, are subject to effective safety, environmental and human rights protections.

“We call on the Federal Government, the Niger State Government, the NSCDC, the Nigeria Police Force and all other relevant authorities to ensure that this investigation is conducted with the independence, transparency and urgency that the scale of this tragedy requires.”

It further explained that steps are necessary, an incident in which 37 people lose their lives within two days in state custody demands an investigation that is independent, transparent, comprehensive, and capable of establishing individual and institutional responsibility.

“However, mourning cannot substitute for accountability, and an investigation cannot be considered complete unless it establishes how 37 people came to die in the custody of the state and identifies those responsible where wrongdoing is found.”