The names of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State have been made public.
The victims were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining activities in Minna on September 15 and 16.
They died two days later.
The incident has since led to protests and a government investigation.
37 names released
The International Human Rights Commission said it obtained the initial list from the General Hospital, Minna.
The organisation later received four additional names from relatives who reported that their family members were missing from the first list.
The full list is:
1. Ibrahim Sani
2. Fahad Sa’adu
3. Abdulsalam Ismail
4. Usman Aliyu
5. Abubakar Alhaji
6. Sani Nasir
7. Sanusi Khalid
8. Ahmad Aliyu
9. Safiyanu Abdullahi
10. Suleiman Dantala
11. Idris Haruna
12. Sani Yakubu
13. Safiyanu Abubakar
14. Abdullahi Abubakar
15. Abubakar Musa
16. Abdul Mudassir
17. Suleiman Lawal
18. Usman Abdullahi
19. Samuel Sambo
20. Ibrahim Musa
21. Yusuf Nasiru
22. Umar Lawal
23. Isyaku Amisu
24. Bissallah Adamu
25. Abdulbari Suleiman
26. Shafisu Lado
27. Usman Ahmad
28. Usman Ibrahim
29. Sani Isyaku
30. Musa Ibrahim
31. Idris Bashir
32. Kabiru Suleiman
33. Emmanuel Emeka
34. Mu’awiya AbdulKarim
35. Abdul Gafar Abubakar
36. Usman Haruna
37. Yaro Salihu Soba
The last four names were reportedly added after relatives provided information that they were missing from the General Hospital record.
Arrests followed illegal mining operation
The deceased were among scores of people arrested during operations targeting suspected illegal mining around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate and other areas of Minna.
The NSCDC later reported that detainees had died inside its facility.
At the time, the Corps said it suspected a disease outbreak.
The explanation has since come under scrutiny as survivors and families raised questions about the conditions inside the detention facility.
Probe ordered after deaths
The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The Niger State NSCDC commandant was suspended along with other officers.
The NSCDC has also detained 24 personnel in connection with the deaths, according to reports from the Corps and Nigerian media.
The investigation is expected to establish what happened during the detention period and determine whether any wrongdoing or negligence occurred.
Protests follow tragedy
The deaths triggered demonstrations in Minna.
Protesters demanded answers and called for those responsible to be held accountable if wrongdoing is established.
The unrest led the Niger State Government to impose a curfew.
Security personnel were deployed as authorities attempted to restore order.
The incident has attracted wider concern because of questions surrounding the treatment of detainees and the circumstances in which the deaths occurred.
What caused the deaths?
The cause remains an important unanswered question.
The NSCDC’s initial explanation was that a suspected disease outbreak caused the deaths.
However, other accounts have raised concerns about overcrowding and ventilation inside the detention facility.
Reuters reported that many of those detained were between 14 and 18 years old and that the circumstances surrounding the deaths remained under investigation.
No final official finding on the cause of death has been announced.
Families await official answers
For families, the release of the 37 names provides an important step towards confirming the identities of those who died.
The IHRC said the list could also support efforts to seek compensation for the affected families.
The ongoing investigation is expected to examine the arrests, detention conditions, medical circumstances and events leading to the deaths.
Until the inquiry is completed, claims about the precise cause of death or individual responsibility should be treated as allegations rather than established facts.
