33 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in NSCDC Custody in Niger State

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says “scores” of suspected illegal miners arrested during a “bust operation” in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto villages in Niger state have died in its custody.

In a statement on Thursday Suberu Aniviye, NSCDC commandant in Niger state, said the suspects were arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16.

Aniviye said, “scores of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following a suspected outbreak of disease”.

However, The Nation quoted the commandant as saying 33 suspects died in custody.