Police in Nigeria fired tear gas at dozens of people who gathered Friday (September 18, 2026) to protest the deaths of 37 miners while they were in custody.
Police officers cordoned off the area and attempted to disperse protesters by firing tear gas canisters. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said on Thursday (September 17, 2026) that the miners, who were arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of illegal mining by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, died in custody. Dozens of young people, including miners and their relatives, gathered near the civil defence corps’ office on Friday (September 18).
“It is an unfortunate incident; however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the Minister of Interior said in a statement.
The protesters claim the miners were killed in retaliation for earlier attacks by some miners on the corps officers.
