Minna Miners Return to Site After 37 Detainees Die, Cite Lack of Jobs

Some teenage and adult miners have returned to the M.I. Wushishi mining site in Minna, Niger State, despite a recent NSCDC raid and reports that 37 detained suspects died in custody. The miners said they have few other ways to earn a living. Several were seen digging for gold with basic tools and washing soil in a nearby stream. One miner said missing even a few days of work creates immediate hardship for workers with no profitable alternatives. The NSCDC said it arrested suspected illegal miners during operations on September 15 and 16. The suspended Niger State commandant later said scores of detainees were found dead after a suspected disease outbreak. Some miners also alleged previous assaults, extortion and shootings during enforcement raids. These claims have not been independently verified. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 detainees remain a major concern.

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