Niger miners’ deaths: ‘I’ll expose any cover-up’ — Adeyanju
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has vowed to expose any attempt to cover up wrongdoing in the investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Adeyanju spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, September 21, 2026, following his appointment to the independent committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the incident.
He said his primary responsibility on the committee was to represent the interests of the deceased and ensure that the circumstances surrounding their deaths were properly established.
“I feel that I am on that committee to serve the interests of those who have been murdered brutally and gruesomely murdered. So, I am there to represent the victims, and I will make sure there is no cover-up or that nobody tries to suppress any wrongdoing; if they try to do so, I will expose them.”
Adeyanju also said the investigation should not be limited to the allegations against the deceased, but should establish what happened from the time they were arrested until their deaths in custody.
The 37 men were arrested during NSCDC operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16. The NSCDC initially said some of the detainees died following a suspected disease outbreak and that their bodies were deposited at the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination.
The deaths sparked protests in Minna, with security personnel using force to disperse protesters. The development led the Niger State Government to impose a 24-hour curfew in the state capital. Governor Umaru Bago also announced that forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to determine the scientific cause of the deaths.
The Federal Government subsequently constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident. According to the Ministry of Interior, the committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths. Adeyanju is one of the members of the committee, which has two weeks to submit its report.
The government also ordered the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers connected with the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Minna branch has separately constituted a 13-member ad hoc committee to conduct an independent investigation into the deaths, while rights groups and other organisations have called for a transparent probe.
The independent committee is now expected to determine what led to the deaths and establish responsibility based on evidence gathered during its investigation.
