FG dole out ₦250m to families of Minna miners who died in NSCDC custody

By our reporter 5.10.2026
Nigeria’s Vice President Kassim Shettima said Monday that the Federal government will release ₦250m to support the families of the 37 victims who were suffocated to death while in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Mr. Shettima who was in Minna on a condolence visit said the Federal government was concerned about the unfortunate death of the miners many of them teenagers. He said justice would be served to whoever was responsible for the negligence to led to their demise.
He appealed to the people of Niger State to remain calm and allow the ongoing investigations to establish what happened and determine those responsible.
Responding, Governor Umaru Bago thanked President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for visiting Niger State and for the financial support to the affected families.
The miners about 60 in number were arrested by the NSCDC at a mining site in Minna and cramped into cell meant for only ten persons with little ventilation. Despite their cries for help NSCDC officers guarding them thought they were joking and ignored them only to be confronted with 37 dead bodies.
The incident sparked an outrage in Minna and a few days ago the Niger State government’s attempt to pacify the youths with a N10,000 token ended in tragedy as three persons were crush to death during a stampede.