Bago suspends Niger NSCDC command, probes deaths of 37 miners

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has ordered a full investigation into the deaths of about 37 suspected illegal miners in custody. He suspended the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State and his team to allow for an impartial investigation. Bago emphasized that possible causes of death include suffocation from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances. The government is also compiling a register of the deceased to identify their families and provide necessary support.