No fewer than 33 suspected illegal miners apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have died.
The miners, who were arrested in Niger State, died in the custody of NSCDC following a suspected disease outbreak.
In a statement on Thursday by NSCDC Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the security agency disclosed that the deceased were among suspected illegal miners arrested during an operation it conducted in the state.
The NSCDC Niger State Commandant disclosed that the suspected illegal miners were arrested during an operation on September 15 and 16 at M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto village by the command.
Aniyiye said the operation was carried out as part of the command’s renewed efforts to rid the state of illegal mining activities and resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
However, the commandant stated that in the early hours of September 17, scores of the detained suspects were found dead due to a suspected disease outbreak.
The NSCDC said the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
The command explained that it is working in synergy with other security agencies to manage the situation and appealed to members of the public and families of the deceased to remain calm and desist from any actions capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order.
The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to the enforcement of human rights and international human rights charters while carrying out its mandate of protecting lives and property as well as critical national assets and infrastructure.
