The Niger State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Minna, the state capital, following violent attacks linked to the death of 37 artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State, Bologi Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, September 18,2026.
According to the statement, the restriction became necessary following a series of violent attacks allegedly carried out by some miscreants who resorted to taking the law into their own hands.
The government said the measure was aimed at curbing further violence and restoring peace in the state capital following growing tension over the reported deaths of the 37 artisanal miners while in NSCDC custody.
It added that the security measures were intended to prevent further escalation of the situation and avert additional loss of lives and property.
Government directed all residents of Minna to strictly comply with the curfew, warning against actions capable of further threatening public peace and security.
The government appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies deployed across the metropolis to maintain law and order, assuring them that security agencies were on the ground to protect lives and property.
Meanwhile, some rights groups in Nigeria have intensified calls for an independent investigation into the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who allegedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described the incident as a grave human rights violation and urged the Federal Government to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths are thoroughly established.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organisation said serious questions remained unanswered over what happened to the suspects following their arrest around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16 and before their bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna.
HURIWA questioned how 37 persons reportedly arrested alive could have died while in government custody, insisting that the circumstances leading to their deaths must be independently investigated.
The rights group said the investigation should establish the events that occurred from the time the suspects were taken into custody until their deaths, including the conditions under which they were detained and the actions taken by officers responsible for their welfare.
Also reacting to the incident, Hope Behind Bars Africa described the reported deaths as a grave failure of the state’s duty to protect lives in its custody.
In a statement signed by Ogechi Ogwuma, the organisation noted that the deceased had been arrested on suspicion of illegal mining but had neither been tried nor convicted.
It therefore stressed that the suspects were entitled to the presumption of innocence and protection of their fundamental rights while in custody.
Ogwuma said the 37 persons entered the custody of the Nigerian state alive, placing a responsibility on the authorities to protect their lives, safety and welfare.
The organisation said accounts reportedly given by survivors had raised serious questions about the conditions inside the detention facility, including alleged overcrowding, poor ventilation, extreme heat and inadequate access to water.
According to Hope Behind Bars Africa, survivors reportedly described being confined in a cell under conditions that allegedly made breathing difficult, with detainees repeatedly calling for assistance.
The organisation, however, stressed that the allegations must be subjected to a rigorous and independent investigation rather than treated as established facts, in order to determine exactly what happened and whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.
It welcomed the reported suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, but said the accountability process should not stop there.
The group called for scrutiny of all officers who had command, custodial, supervisory or welfare responsibilities over the facility during the period in which the suspects were detained.
Hope Behind Bars Africa also urged the authorities to protect survivors, relatives of the deceased and other potential witnesses from intimidation, harassment or retaliation during the investigation.
The organisations’ demands have added to growing calls for transparency over the deaths, with the circumstances surrounding the incident now attracting increased public and human rights scrutiny.
