No fewer than 33 suspected illegal miners are feared dead after being detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

The suspects were arrested during an operation targeting illegal mining activities across the state and were subsequently detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026, according to the Niger State Command of the NSCDC.

The state Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, confirmed that scores of detained suspects had died, attributing the deaths to a suspected outbreak of disease.

Aniviye disclosed that the command carried out a “burst operation” on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the state.

According to him, the operation resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.

He, however, said the situation took a tragic turn in the early hours of Thursday when several of the detained suspects were found dead.

“The operation yielded significant results, with scores of suspected illegal miners arrested and various exhibits recovered.

“However, in the early hours of 17th September, 2026, scores of the detained suspects were found dead, following a suspected outbreak of disease,” the commandant said in a statement.

Aniviye added that the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.

Although the NSCDC has not officially disclosed the number of deceased suspects, a source at the General Hospital, Minna, told PUNCH Online that 33 bodies had been brought to the facility.

The source further said the deaths were suspected to be linked to diphtheria, although this has not been officially confirmed by the NSCDC or medical authorities.

The uncertainty over the exact number of deaths and the cause has heightened concerns among residents and relatives of the detained suspects.

Residents of M.I. Wushishi and Mekunkle, believed to have relatives among those detained, reportedly staged protests on Thursday following the spread of news about the deaths.

Efforts by PUNCH Online to obtain further clarification from the NSCDC spokesman in Niger State, Muhammad Muti, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were unanswered. Messages sent via SMS and WhatsApp had also not received a response as of the time of filing the report.

The NSCDC command appealed for calm among the families of the deceased and members of the public, urging them to avoid actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

Aniviye said the corps was working with sister security agencies to manage the situation and maintain peace.

He also reaffirmed the commitment of the NSCDC to enforcing human rights standards and complying with international human rights charters.

The development comes amid ongoing concerns over illegal mining activities in Niger State and their associated security, environmental and public health implications.

Further medical examinations are expected to establish the cause of death and provide more clarity on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detained suspects.

The Nigerian Army and the Indonesian military are set to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, with both countries seeking to expand professional exchanges, operational collaboration and military training.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the relationship when he received the Indonesian Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Aslam Setiawan, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement shared on X on Thursday.

Shaibu described the longstanding military relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia as mutually beneficial, particularly in the areas of professional military education, exchange of operational experience and participation in multinational military exercises.

He stressed the importance of sustained military-to-military engagement in developing a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force capable of responding effectively to evolving security challenges.

The Army Chief called for expanded cooperation in counterinsurgency operations, emerging technologies and other areas of mutual interest between the two countries.

According to him, increased exchange of expertise and technology would strengthen situational awareness, improve operational planning and enhance overall battlefield effectiveness.

Shaibu also highlighted the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, noting that the development would require greater investment in infrastructure, training, technology and institutional support.

He said stronger international defence partnerships could contribute to the Nigerian Army’s efforts to build capacity and improve its operational readiness.

In his remarks, Setiawan reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations with Nigeria.

The Indonesian Defence Attaché said professional military exchanges and multinational exercises provide important platforms for the two countries to share operational knowledge and improve cooperation.

He specifically cited Exercise Super Garuda Shield as one of the multinational exercises offering opportunities to enhance interoperability and exchange operational experience.

The meeting underscored the interest of both countries in sustaining military cooperation through training, professional exchanges, technology and joint participation in multinational exercises.

The renewed engagement comes as the Nigerian Army continues efforts to expand its structure and strengthen its capacity to respond to the country’s evolving security needs.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned Point of Sale operators across Nigeria against aiding fraudsters, money launderers and other criminals in perpetrating financial crimes.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, issued the warning on Thursday when a delegation of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, led by its National President, Oti Obioha, visited the Commission’s headquarters.

Olukoyede, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Commander of the EFCC, Michael Nzekwe, said POS operators were increasingly being linked to transactions involving money laundering, terrorist financing and ransom payments.

He urged AMMBAN to strengthen its regulatory structure and establish a comprehensive framework for monitoring its members and maintaining accurate records.

“We have realized that the issues of money laundering, terrorist financing, and even ransom payments are made mostly from POS machines,” Nzekwe quoted Olukoyede as saying.

According to the EFCC chairman, proper records of POS operators and their transactions would assist law enforcement agencies in tracing suspicious funds and identifying individuals involved in financial crimes.

“Your association needs to do more, by coming up with a structure and a comprehensive framework that will have records of all your operators, so that during the course of investigation, we will be able to trace, monitor and have records that can aid us,” he said.

Olukoyede also questioned the level of supervision, training and record-keeping within the POS sector, asking the association to demonstrate the measures it had put in place to ensure compliance among its members.

“My question is, what is the impact of your association on the members? Do you train your members? Do you have records of the address of your members?” he asked.

The EFCC boss further raised concerns over the alleged involvement of some POS operators in fraudulent activities, saying some operators could knowingly or unknowingly facilitate criminal transactions.

“There are even some POS operators who are actually fraudsters; they aid, conspire, give out information and abet fraudsters,” he said.

He noted that inadequate transaction records often create difficulties for investigators attempting to trace funds transferred through POS outlets.

“Most times, in the course of investigation, when you find out that money was laundered through a POS operator, by the time you bring them in, they won’t even know the person who sent the money and who withdrew it — no records of the transactions — and no one is asking questions,” Olukoyede said.

He therefore urged AMMBAN to ensure that its members maintain proper financial records for every transaction and keep reliable information on their operators across the country.

The EFCC chairman also expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the association on training, public awareness and information sharing to strengthen efforts against financial crimes within the POS sector.

Responding, AMMBAN National President, Oti Obioha, thanked the EFCC for receiving the delegation and acknowledged the need for stronger cooperation between the association and the anti-graft agency.

“We deem it fit to present ourselves to help and work with the EFCC in preventing money laundering and other kinds of fraud,” Obioha said.

He explained that POS operators have a strong presence at the grassroots and could therefore play a significant role in preventing and detecting financial crimes.

“We are at the grassroots, and we observe that your institution is always inviting our members, so we wish we could have a partnership that can see to the training of our members on some of the issues like financial thresholds and the risks involved in some of our operations,” he said.

Obioha said the association was prepared to work with the EFCC to reduce fraudulent activities within the sector, particularly through improved training and awareness.

“We want to collaborate in the areas of training, because most of our agents don’t know the rules of our operations. So, we need to partner in creating awareness,” he said.

The proposed collaboration is expected to focus on improving compliance, strengthening transaction monitoring and educating POS operators on the risks associated with handling suspicious funds and transactions.

With POS services now widely used for cash withdrawals, transfers and other financial transactions, the EFCC’s warning underscores the importance of proper record-keeping and greater oversight within the sector.