Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, says the state government was not informed about the arrest and detention of suspected illegal miners who later died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Bago disclosed this during an interview on Sunday while speaking on the deaths of the miners detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.

The incident has generated public concern, with investigations ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.

The suspected miners were reportedly arrested by NSCDC personnel during operations against illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16.

According to Bago, 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners were taken into custody, while 37 subsequently died.

The governor said the precise cause of the deaths had not been established, noting that overcrowding and possible exposure to hazardous substances were among the factors being examined.

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