Niger deaths: NSCDC Mining Marshals deny involvement

John Onoja Attah, Commander of the Mining Marshals, has said that his unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, was not involved in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody in Niger State on September 16, 2026.

Attah made this clarification in a statement on Sunday.

His clarification comes amid allegations linking the NSCDC Mining Marshals to the incident.

Reports had alleged that the now-suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, hinted that the Mining Marshals were involved in the operation against suspected illegal miners at the M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna.

Reacting, Onoja said, contrary to Aniviye's claim, “no Mining Marshals operative is attached to the Niger State Command or to any State Command of the Corps for that matter".

He stressed that no Mining Marshals personnel were involved in the operation at any time, citing official records.

DAILY POST reports that the deaths of the suspected illegal miners had sparked reactions among Nigerians.

To unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths, the Federal Government set up a probe panel which is expected to submit its findings soon.

Niger deaths: NSCDC Mining Marshals deny involvement