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Families of suspected illegal miners who died in Nigerian detention accuse officials of mistreatment
Compiled Sep 20
What happened
Sulieman Mohammed, a 25-year-old motorcycle mechanic, was found dead in the custody of Nigeria's NSCDC security agency.
The detail
67 people suspected of illegal mining were held in one cell, and 37 of them probably died of suffocation.
The detail
The suspects were arrested between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The detail
The Nigerian government named a 10-member investigative committee and suspended 20 more NSCDC personnel.
How it unfolded
Tuesday to Wednesday: The 67 suspects, including Sulieman Mohammed, were arrested. · Thursday: Sulieman and 36 others were found dead in an NSCDC cell. · Thursday: The security agency blamed the deaths on a possible disease outbreak. · Friday: Niger state Gov. Umar Bago said 37 of 67 detainees probably died of suffocation. · Friday: The head of the NSCDC in Niger state was suspended. · Saturday: The government named a 10-member investigative committee and suspended 20 more NSCDC personnel.
By the numbers
25 age of Sulieman Mohammed · 67 total suspects held in the cell · 37 detainees who died · 20 NSCDC personnel suspended · 371,622 rights violation complaints in 2025
Still unresolved
The security agency blamed the deaths on a possible disease outbreak, which has not been confirmed.