By Godswill Michael
The Federal Mines Office, Minna, has said it had no prior knowledge of, and did not participate in, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps operation that led to the arrest of 66 miners at Lukoto Village, M.I. Wushishi, Niger State.
The office said the NSCDC Niger State Command carried out the operation at the mining site in Paikoro/Chanchaga Local Government Area on September 15 and 16, 2026, without notifying, consulting or involving the Federal Mines Office, which is responsible for the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development’s field-level mining regulatory and inspection functions in the state.
It also raised concerns over the reported deaths of 33 of the detained miners in custody in the early hours of September 17, calling for an urgent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The position was contained in a report dated September 17, 2026, and signed by the Federal Mines Officer-in-Charge, Niger State, Engr. H.T. Bolarinwa, FNSE, and addressed to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development through the Director, Mines Inspectorate Department.
According to the report, seen by Pointblanknews.com on Monday, information available to the Federal Mines Office indicated that NSCDC personnel conducted what it described as a unilateral security operation at the mining site.
The office said it received no prior notification, operational briefing, request for technical assistance or invitation to participate in the operation.
“The Federal Mines Office, Minna, wishes to formally state that it had no prior knowledge of, and was not involved in, the reported NSCDC operation at Lukoto Village M.I. Wushihi,” the report stated.
It added that the operation was conducted “without the knowledge or participation of the Federal Mines Office.”
The office, however, stopped short of declaring the operation unlawful solely because it was not notified, acknowledging that the NSCDC has statutory security and enforcement responsibilities.
It said the absence of prior notification did not, by itself, invalidate the operation.
“Accordingly, this office does not presently assert that the mere absence of prior notification automatically renders the NSCDC operation unlawful,” the report stated.
The Mines Office asked the ministry to clarify the protocols governing security operations at mining sites, particularly where such operations involve technical inspections, mineral-title verification or functions assigned to authorised mining officers.
It said mining-site operations often require technical assessments to establish the precise location and cadastral status of a site, identify operators and determine the status of mineral titles.
Such coordination, it added, was also necessary to determine whether mining activities were lawful or unauthorised, identify appropriate regulatory responses and assess hazards associated with underground workings, confined spaces and mineral processing.
The office stressed that it was not seeking to obstruct lawful security operations but argued that mining interventions should, where practicable and legally required, involve appropriate technical input and inter-agency coordination.
The report cited the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, as the principal legislation governing mining activities in the country. It noted that Sections 16 and 17 establish the Mines Inspectorate Department and provide for functions including the supervision of mining operations and enforcement of compliance with the Act.
According to the office, the status of the mining operation at Lukoto should therefore be established by verifying the relevant mineral title and determining the precise nature of the activities being carried out at the site.
Deaths in Custody
On the reported deaths, the Federal Mines Office said 66 miners were arrested during the operation and that 33 were subsequently found dead while in custody.
It said the deaths had raised suspicions of suffocation but cautioned that no definitive cause should be established until the appropriate medical and investigative authorities complete their work.
The office said the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and further investigation.
It emphasised that the information contained in its report represented what was available to the office at the time and should be verified through official records, witness accounts, medical findings and the relevant investigation.
The office identified several issues investigators should examine, including the circumstances leading to the arrests, the grounds for detention, the identities of the arresting officers, the place of detention and the legal basis for continued custody.
It also called for scrutiny of the physical conditions in which the detainees were held, including ventilation, available space, access to drinking water, sanitation, medical attention and emergency response arrangements.
On the suspected suffocation, the report said investigators should determine whether the deaths resulted from suffocation, a medical emergency, environmental exposure, physical injury or another cause.
“Although suffocation has been mentioned as a suspected cause of death, no definitive conclusion should be reached until the relevant medical and forensic examinations have been completed,” the office stated.
It called for independent post-mortem examinations and other necessary forensic procedures, while urging authorities to preserve relevant evidence.
The office also said the investigation should be conducted impartially, with due regard for the rights of the deceased, surviving detainees, their families and all persons involved in the operation.
Call for Inquiry
Beyond the immediate incident, the Federal Mines Office said the operation highlighted broader concerns about coordination between security agencies and mining regulators.
It warned that security operations conducted without technical participation from the Mines Inspectorate could make it difficult to determine a site’s mineral-title status and the legal character of mining activities.
It also cited the potential for inadequate assessment of occupational and environmental hazards, gaps in documenting regulatory violations and preserving evidence, duplication or conflict of responsibilities, weaker enforcement against illegal mining and difficulties in establishing a complete account of events for subsequent administrative, medical or judicial proceedings.
The report therefore recommended that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development direct an immediate inquiry into the NSCDC operation, including the basis for the arrests, detention conditions and reported deaths.
It also urged the ministry to request a comprehensive written account from the NSCDC Niger State Command covering the operational authorisation and grounds for the raid, the names and ranks of officers involved, the exact location and time of the operation, the identities and number of persons arrested, the detention conditions and the chronology leading to the deaths.
The Federal Mines Office further requested details of the medical attention and emergency response provided to the detainees, as well as the current status and whereabouts of surviving detainees.
It recommended an independent medical and forensic investigation, including post-mortem examinations and toxicological or other tests where necessary.
The office also asked the Director of Mines to authorise the Federal Mines Office, Minna, to conduct a technical assessment of the Lukoto M.I. Wushishi mining site, subject to appropriate safety precautions and coordination with investigators.
According to the report, the assessment should determine the site’s mineral-title status, the nature of the mining activities and any relevant safety or regulatory concerns.
The office further recommended that the ministry consult the NSCDC and other security and regulatory agencies to establish a clear protocol for future mining-site enforcement operations.
It said such a protocol should provide for timely notification and technical participation by the Mines Inspectorate where appropriate, while preserving the lawful operational independence of security agencies.
The report also called for the preservation of operational records, detention registers, medical records, photographs, video footage, communications and other evidence connected with the incident.
The office urged authorities to protect surviving detainees and witnesses, including by ensuring the safety and medical welfare of survivors and protecting witnesses from intimidation or interference.
It also recommended that the ministry’s Legal Department review the facts and applicable laws and advise on any necessary administrative action, inter-agency engagement or referral to appropriate investigative authorities.
The Federal Mines Office asked to be allowed to submit additional information and findings as they become available to assist the ministry in establishing a complete account of the incident.
In its conclusion, the office said the reported NSCDC operation, carried out without the prior knowledge or participation of the Federal Mines Office, raised important questions about inter-agency coordination and the administration of mining regulation.
It said the reported arrest of 66 miners and subsequent deaths of 33 detainees in custody demanded an urgent, transparent and impartial investigation.
“While this office recognizes the importance of lawful security operations and the collective responsibility of government agencies to address illegal mining and related offences, it is essential that such activities are conducted within the applicable legal framework, with appropriate technical coordination and full regard for the safety and rights of persons in custody,” the report stated.
The Federal Mines Office subsequently requested the minister’s urgent intervention and directives to establish the facts, clarify the respective responsibilities of the agencies involved and prevent a recurrence.