Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMIN) has condemned the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, demanding an independent judicial inquiry, accountability and urgent reforms of detention facilities and artisanal mining operations.
The organisation, in a statement issued by its Media and Communications Directorate, described the incident as tragic and preventable, while extending condolences to the families of the deceased, particularly women who lost sons, brothers and breadwinners.
The victims were among scores of people arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. The Federal Government has since constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and suspended officers linked to the incident.
WIMIN expressed particular concern over reports that some of the deceased were teenagers aged between 14 and 18.
The organisation said while the NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, accounts attributed to survivors pointed to overcrowding, extreme heat, dehydration and poor ventilation in the detention facility.
It alleged that as many as 65 detainees were held in a single cell and that some survivors reported banging on the doors and calling for help as detainees collapsed.
WIMIN stressed that the allegations should be subjected to an independent investigation, noting that the actual cause of death remains a matter for medical and forensic determination. Authorities have said medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to establish the cause.
The Founder and National President of WIMIN, Engr. Janet Adeyemi, called for a shift from aggressive enforcement to a human-centred approach to artisanal mining.
“We cannot continue to use iron fists and lethal containment strategies against young citizens who are driven into mining pits by the sheer desperation for survival,” Adeyemi said.
She argued that poverty and lack of alternative livelihoods were major factors pushing young people into artisanal mining, adding that government should prioritise formalisation, safer mining practices and economic opportunities.
WIMIN also condemned the reported use of force and tear gas against families and community members who protested in Minna following the deaths. Reports have confirmed that protests erupted after the incident, with security forces using tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to establish a fully independent and transparent judicial inquiry, with independent medical experts monitoring the autopsies and other forensic procedures.
It further demanded that anyone found culpable of negligence, abuse of power or failure of duty be prosecuted.
WIMIN called on the Ministry of Interior to undertake an immediate audit of detention facilities operated by security and paramilitary agencies nationwide, with particular attention to overcrowding, ventilation, access to water and emergency medical response.
On artisanal mining, the organisation urged the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to accelerate the formalisation and organisation of artisanal miners through cooperatives and other legal structures.
According to WIMIN, miners should be provided with legal frameworks, training and safer equipment rather than being treated solely as security offenders.
It also called for better training of mining enforcement personnel to ensure that operations are conducted without violating human rights.
The organisation linked the crisis to the socio-economic conditions in Niger State, citing poverty, unemployment and limited livelihood opportunities as factors contributing to the growth of informal mining.
It said Niger State’s mineral resources, including gold, lithium and tantalite, could provide legitimate economic opportunities if properly regulated and developed.
WIMIN also called for stronger enforcement of child-labour protections in the mining sector, educational alternatives for teenagers and adequate support and compensation for families affected by the deaths.
The organisation said the Minna tragedy should prompt a broader review of Nigeria’s approach to artisanal mining, arguing that enforcement must be balanced with human rights, public safety, economic realities and the protection of vulnerable communities.
