The government of the Nigerian state of Niger has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the capital, Minna, after the death of 37 miners who were in custody. The incident has triggered protests from their relatives and has led to the suspension of the head of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.
The announcement was made by the governor, Mohamed Umaro Bago, at a press conference broadcast by the news portal The Premium Times, in which he also ordered the suspension of all mining activities in the state "until further notice."
As he explained, these decisions aim to ensure public order in the state and respond to the tensions generated by the death of the 37 miners, which he referred to as "tragic and unacceptable." As a result of the situation, the governor has been forced to cancel a rally he was scheduled to hold this Saturday.
The protests began on Thursday in Minna, when the relatives of the deceased demanded explanations about what happened. The police intervened using tear gas in order to disperse those gathered.
At the same time, the authorities have temporarily removed the head of the NSCDC in the state from his position and have ordered the opening of an official investigation to clarify the circumstances and determine responsibilities for the events that occurred in the early hours of Thursday.
So far, the exact causes of the deaths of the detainees, arrested for alleged illegal mining during operations carried out on September 15 and 16, have not been determined. However, the governor has indicated that possible factors being considered include asphyxiation due to overcrowding in the detention facilities and exposure to toxic substances related to mining activities.
The president of the country, Bola Tinubu, has also commented on what happened and emphasized that his government "will not tolerate mass deaths resulting from official negligence, failure to perform duties, or the failure of public officials to protect the lives entrusted to their care."