37 Die in NSCDC Custody: NBA Demands Answers, Full Investigation

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Thirty-Seven Nigerians entered custody alive and were entitled to protection of the law’

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has demanded a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 persons who were arrested on suspicion of illegal mining and detained in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The deaths, which came to public attention in the early hours of Thursday
, September 17, 2026, have triggered widespread concern and official investigations, with the NBA describing the incident as one of the utmost gravity.

While an earlier Reuters report said 33 bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna mortuary, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago subsequently confirmed the death toll at 37.

In a statement on the incident, the NBA expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State, while stressing that the circumstances surrounding the deaths must be established through evidence rather than speculation.

The association said the fact that the deceased had been arrested on suspicion of illegal mining did not diminish the State's obligation to protect their lives and dignity while in custody.

“Thirty-seven lives have been lost. Thirty-seven families are grieving,” the NBA said, stressing that the victims were Nigerians who “entered the custody of the NSCDC alive” and were entitled to the protection of the law.

The NBA said it had deliberately refrained from immediately determining the cause of the deaths, arguing that an organisation committed to defending the rule of law must not reach conclusions ahead of the evidence.

However, the association warned that such restraint should not be interpreted as indifference.

According to the NBA, the deaths of 37 people while in the custody of a government security agency demand an investigation capable of establishing exactly what happened, identifying any failures or wrongdoing and ensuring accountability where responsibility is established.

Government Moves to Unravel Minna Custody Deaths

The association acknowledged the immediate steps taken by the Federal and Niger State governments following the incident.

These include the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and the summoning of relevant senior officers, investigations initiated by the NSCDC and Niger State Government, intervention by the Nigeria Police Force and deployment of a team by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

The NBA also noted the intervention of the Minister of Interior and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive for a full and transparent investigation, with accountability for anyone found responsible through abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty.

Mohamed Umar Bago
Niger state governor 

The association described the initial response as commendable but cautioned that the real test would be the independence and thoroughness of the investigations, the transparency of their findings and the action taken thereafter.

Questions That Must Be Answered

The NBA has raised a series of questions at the heart of the tragedy.

How did 37 detainees die within such a short period?

What were the conditions under which they were detained?

How many people were being held at the facility, and what was its lawful capacity?

What medical facilities and emergency response arrangements were available?

What happened when detainees reportedly began showing signs of distress?

And, most importantly, what does the scientific evidence establish as the cause of death?

The association also said there were disturbing accounts from survivors that must be investigated, while cautioning against treating allegations as established facts before the completion of credible investigations.

For the NBA, the Minna tragedy has moved beyond the question of illegal mining arrests to a fundamental issue of the rule of law: what responsibility does the State bear for the safety and dignity of people placed in its custody?

As investigations begin, families of the deceased and the wider public are now waiting for answers on how 37 people lost their lives behind the walls of a government detention facility—and whether anyone will ultimately be held accountable.