Police don fire teargas as protests break out for Minna on Friday, after 37 suspected illegal gold miners die inside cell of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) this week. Authorities impose overnight curfew for city.
The victims, many of them children, na Thursday dem find dem dead inside cells of NSCDC. The paramilitary group raid suspected illegal gold mines and lock up dozens of miners for Minna, capital of Niger State, state wey get plenty mineral.
NSCDC initially blame disease outbreak for deaths. But intelligence report wey Agence France-Presse (AFP) see talk say overcrowding and poor ventilation likely cause am.
Governor Umar Bago talk say many among dead na children, aged 14 to 18, wey dey work for mines instead of school. He talk say illegal mining dey take toll on children.
Dauda Shehu, one survivor from the cell, tell journalists for hospital on Friday say: ‘We were jam-packed in the cell, no ventilation for us to breathe well. All of a sudden we realise say we no fit breathe and we dey scamper for fresh air. We appeal to them plenty times, bang cell door, but dem refuse to answer us.’
Video wey share online show bodies of dozens of young men, only shorts dem wear, most look like teenagers, lie for ground outside. Volunteers with gloves stand over dead; women wey cover face try identify relatives. Voices shout curse on those responsible dey background.
AFP report say another survivor, wey ask make dem no name am, talk say he survive because he dey near cell entrance where he fit breathe better. He talk say dem dey scream for help, as detainees tell guards say people dey die one after another. He talk say dem no believe them.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu order investigation into deaths after him government earlier suspend some senior officials. But protests over deaths start Thursday evening for Minna.
On Friday, dozens of young people, including miners and their relatives, gather near NSCDC office for city. Police cordon area and try disperse protesters with teargas. Reuters witness see security forces fire live rounds as protesters, some hold sticks, machetes and traditional hunting rifles, call for justice. Some protesters try set fire to government buildings for Tunga neighbourhood.
Yusuf Auwal, miner wey join protesters, tell Reuters: ‘We are not thieves – we are simply seeking a way to make a living by mining.’ At least one body lie for street. Soldiers and police patrol Minna to restore order. As curfew begin 6pm local time on Friday, security forces appear to don restore order at least temporarily for streets.
NSCDC say detainees dey held in raids on suspected illegal mines on 15 and 16 September for Wushishi-Lukoto area west of Minna. Nigeria interior minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, order immediate suspension of Niger state NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending outcome of investigation.
Niger State, Nigeria largest state and more than twice size of Belgium, get plenty minerals and attracts thousands of artisanal miners, most lure by gold. Police and NSCDC no initially provide exact number of deaths but state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, later confirm say 37 people die. He talk say it is so sad and so tragic, add say inquiry into deaths don start work. He declare three days mourning and postpone start of campaigning for elections due in January. Dem bury men on Thursday according to Islamic tradition, without any forensic investigations.
Scramble for gold reserves wey dem dig for illegal mines for Niger State dey fuel violence by criminal gangs, according to officials and experts. Gangs dey tax miners and demand cut from extracted ore as levy to allow them access to pits. Most illegally mined gold dey smuggled to United Arab Emirates, where dem launder am into global supply chain for Europe, US, Asia and South Africa, according to 2024 Swissaid report. Apart from gold, Niger State sit on deposits of other minerals including tantalite, copper and lithium, wey dey strong demand for electric vehicles and clean energy technology.
Deaths of miners don make people ask question about how security agents dey treat suspects, especially detention before court. For Nigeria, constitution and other laws talk say anybody wey dem accuse of crime get right to be treated as innocent until court prove otherwise. Laws also set conditions for arrest, detention, and time to bring person to court, plus protection from unlawful detention.
Barista Nuhu Hamza Dantani, one Nigerian law expert, tell BBC Hausa say Nigerian laws explain how to detain people wey commit different crimes. He talk say section 36 (5) provide say anybody wey dem arrest for alleged crime no be guilty for law until court find am guilty. He talk say any person wey dem accuse no commit crime until dem charge am to court and court find am guilty based on evidence wey dem present.
Dantani talk say law give suspects rights. He talk say dem dey detain person if dem accuse am of serious crimes like murder, armed robbery and others. He talk say no be every offence require arrest and detention. He talk say reason why dem dey arrest suspects na if dem fear say dem go run away. He add say if dem sure suspect no go run, no need to arrest am. He talk say reason why dem dey arrest suspects na if dem fear say if dem leave them dem go run, or destroy investigation, or no go come court to answer.
Dantani talk say law no allow make dem detain person for long time for security agents hand, even if dem accuse am of crime. He talk say section 35 (4-5) provide say if dem arrest suspect, make dem take am court within 24 hours, if court no pass 40 kilometres from where dem detain am. He add say if distance to court from where dem detain am pass 40 kilometres, make dem take am within two days. But he talk say if security agents need more evidence from investigation, dem fit ask court for permission to continue detain suspect until dem finish investigation.
