The incident occurred after the suspects were arrested during enforcement operations against illegal mining in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, following what the NSCDC initially described as a suspected disease outbreak in the detention facility.
The corpses of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and autopsy to establish the actual cause of death.
Reacting to the incident, Tunji-Ojo ordered a full investigation and directed that the commandant under whose watch the deaths occurred remain suspended pending the outcome of the probe.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the minister said in a statement issued by his media aide, Babatunde Alao.
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this.”
The minister urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding to allow the investigation to proceed in a transparent manner.
He also commiserated with Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of the deceased.
Before his suspension, Aniviye said the suspects had been arrested as part of a “burst operation” aimed at tackling illegal mining activities in the state.
He said the operation resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
The commandant said the detainees were subsequently found dead after the suspected disease outbreak, adding that the medical examination would help determine the actual cause of death.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.
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