IGP Disu Visits Niger Over Death of 37 Miners in NSCDC Custody, Orders Thorough Investigation
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has visited Niger State following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), pledging a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Disu, who paid a condolence visit to the state on Friday, September 18, 2026, described the deaths as a tragedy requiring urgent action, assuring the Niger State Government and the families of the deceased that the Nigeria Police Force would leave no stone unturned in determining what happened.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Iniedu, ANIPR, disclosed this in a statement issued on September 18, 2026, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
On arrival in Niger State, the IGP was received by Governor Muhammad Umar Bago, alongside other dignitaries and heads of security agencies in the state.
Disu commiserated with the government and people of Niger State over the deaths and called for close cooperation between the Police, the NSCDC leadership in the state and the committee constituted by the state government to investigate the incident.
He stressed that deaths occurring in lawful custody constituted a grave matter that could not be treated lightly, particularly as the circumstances surrounding the deaths had yet to be established.
“The Nigeria Police Force will leave no stone unturned in unravelling the cause of the incident,” Disu assured the Governor and people of the state.
The suspected miners were reportedly arrested a day earlier over alleged illegal mining activities before they were found dead in NSCDC custody in the early hours of Friday.
Governor Bago, while thanking the IGP for his prompt intervention and condolence visit, confirmed that the deceased had been arrested over suspected illegal mining and subsequently died while in NSCDC custody.
The Governor said the incident had triggered serious unrest in the state, adding that the state government was taking necessary measures to ensure a seamless investigation.
According to him, forensic examinations and autopsies would form part of efforts to determine the actual cause of the deaths, while the Niger State Government would provide full support to the relevant security agencies conducting the investigation.
The IGP also appealed to residents of Niger State, particularly the families of the deceased, to remain calm and law-abiding, warning that violence could further complicate efforts to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
He assured the affected families and residents that the investigation would be conducted in accordance with the rule of law, due process, transparency and respect for human rights.
“The investigation will be conducted in strict adherence to the rule of law, due process, transparency, and respect for human rights, without any form of compromise,” the IGP stated.
The Police reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and safeguarding the rights and safety of persons in lawful custody, while pledging continued collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths are properly established.
