NLC Demands Justice Over Mining Custody Deaths

NLC Demands Justice Over Mining Custody Deaths

​The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the tragic deaths of 37 individuals while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, calling for an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident.

​According to reports, the victims—including numerous young people and minors—were detained following operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto regions on September 15 and 16, 2026.

​In a statement issued by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the labour organization extended condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Niger State. While acknowledging the Federal Government’s initial response—which includes forming an investigative committee and suspending officers linked to the tragedy—the NLC stressed that administrative suspensions cannot replace true accountability and justice.

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​The congress emphasized that the underlying socioeconomic realities of rural communities must be addressed to prevent future occurrences. Pointing to widespread poverty, high unemployment, and the absence of decent livelihood opportunities, the NLC noted that these structural failures frequently drive vulnerable families and children into hazardous artisanal mining.

​Key Demands From the Labour Body

• ​Comprehensive Accountability: A full public disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, detention, and treatment of the victims, alongside strict legal penalties for anyone found culpable of negligence or abuse.
• ​Sector Regulation: Stronger enforcement of safety standards, workplace rights, and a total prohibition of hazardous child labour within artisanal and small-scale mining.
• ​Socioeconomic Interventions: The rollout of alternative livelihood programs, robust social protection frameworks, and guaranteed access to quality education and skills development for affected working-class households.
• ​Inclusive Policy Making: The active involvement of trade unions, civil society organizations, and local community representatives in reforming and regulating the informal mining sector.

​The NLC concluded that addressing the surface symptoms of illegal mining will remain ineffective unless the nation confronts the deeper crises of poverty wages, economic inequality, and the rapid expansion of precarious informal employment.