37 men went into an NSCDC cell alive after a clampdown on illegal mining. By the next morning, they were all dead. Now the Presidency is in Minna.

In a sombre, highly symbolic move, Vice President Kashim Shettima has just touched down at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna, Niger State, reports cbinews.tv.

He wasn’t there for politics as usual. He came to say sorry.

Shettima was received on arrival by Governor Umaru Bago and senior state officials, and is expected to convey President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s personal condolences to the government, the people of Niger, and crucially, the grieving families left behind.

More Than Just Numbers:

Behind that figure — 37 — are 37 households in Niger, Nasarawa and beyond. These were fathers, brothers and sons who left home for the pits and never returned. For their families, there was no trial, no phone call, no chance to say goodbye — just the news that their loved ones died in the hands of the very agency meant to protect them.

It’s this raw pain that Vice President Shettima is there to acknowledge today.

This isn’t happening in a vacuum.

Niger State sits on one of Nigeria’s largest gold belts, and illegal mining has exploded in the last five years. According to data from the Ministry of Solid Minerals, Nigeria loses an estimated $9 billion annually to illegal mining, with Niger, Zamfara and Osun as epicentres. In Niger alone, over 1,000 illegal mining sites are believed to be active, despite a state-wide ban.

Custodial deaths are also a long, ugly thread in Nigeria’s history. From police cells to paramilitary detentions, Amnesty International and the National Human Rights Commission have repeatedly flagged overcrowding, poor medical care and torture as systemic issues. What makes the Minna incident so shocking is the scale — 37 deaths in one night, in one facility.

As of now, 24 NSCDC officers linked to the operation have been moved to the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja and placed in protective detention for two weeks pending the outcome of the federal probe. Three more personnel were later identified and suspended.

Why It Matters?

This visit matters for three reasons:

1. Accountability: If 37 Nigerians can die in state custody without answers, public trust in our security institutions collapses.

2. Mining Reform: It forces a national conversation about how we treat artisanal miners — criminalise and kill, or formalise and regulate?

3. Human Rights: It puts custodial justice back on the front burner at Aso Rock.

What is the NSCDC’s Role?

Many Nigerians ask — why is the NSCDC arresting miners? Under the NSCDC Act, the Corps is mandated to protect critical national infrastructure, including solid mineral assets, and to curb illegal mining, oil theft and vandalism. In practice, they often lead enforcement operations in mining communities alongside the police and army.

What’s Next?

Vice President Shettima is expected to hold closed-door meetings with Governor Bago, meet privately with families of the deceased, and engage other stakeholders. According to cbinews.tv, the Federal Government is expected to use the visit to reaffirm its commitment to a transparent investigation and to support the families.

All eyes will now be on the report of the independent committee. Will it be made public? Will anyone be prosecuted? And will the Federal Government finally move from banning artisanal miners to creating a safe, legal path for them?

We will keep you posted.

Source: cbinews.tv

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