The Amalgamated Civil Society Groups of Nigeria (ACSN) has welcomed the investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, calling for transparency and accountability.
The group also commended the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi, over steps taken by the Corps following the incident.
Thirty-seven people detained on suspicion of illegal mining died in NSCDC custody after operations conducted in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. The cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Wale Adegoke, and Secretary, Comrade Musa Abdullahi, ACSN described the deaths as deeply concerning and said the circumstances must be thoroughly and impartially investigated.
The group said the death of people in the custody of a security agency raised serious questions that must be answered through a credible investigative process.
“We commend the prompt response of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, and the leadership of the Corps in handling the unfortunate incident,” the group said.
Following the incident, the Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the arrests, detention and circumstances surrounding the deaths. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also directed the suspension of officers connected with the case pending the outcome of the investigation.
ACSN said the administrative actions would help create an environment for an unhindered investigation and stressed that anyone found responsible for negligence, misconduct or unlawful conduct should face appropriate sanctions.
The group urged the authorities to strengthen accountability within the NSCDC and ensure that security personnel comply with professional standards and respect the rights of people in their custody.
It also called for wider scrutiny of illegal mining activities across the country, arguing that their persistence and scale required authorities to investigate the individuals and networks that facilitate unauthorised mining.
According to ACSN, efforts by the Federal Government to tackle illegal mining should continue, but enforcement operations must comply with the law and established human rights standards.
The organisation cautioned political actors and other stakeholders against reaching conclusions before investigations were completed, saying the deaths should not be exploited for partisan purposes.
It urged civil society organisations, traditional institutions, security agencies, political actors and members of the public to allow the investigative process to establish the facts.
ACSN also called on the NSCDC leadership to strengthen its internal accountability mechanisms and make the outcome of the investigation public in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
“The lesson from the Niger State incident must be clear: every life matters, every public officer must be accountable, and every security institution must operate within the highest standards of professionalism and responsibility,” the group said.
The Federal Government has said its independent committee has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit a report to the Minister of Interior.
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