Concerns have been expressed by Nigerian social critic D English Alhaji on the death of a man named Emmanuel, one of the 37 captives who are said to have perished in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC) custody in Minna, Niger State.
D English Alhaji stated in a video that Emmanuel was detained after a disagreement with his boss over an apparent account imbalance, not because he was an illegal miner.
“Among the 37 persons wey kpai NSCDC detention for Minna, Niger State is one boy wey them dey call Emmanuel. Emmanuel no follow for the so-called ‘illegal miners’.”
He claimed that after finishing an account, Emmanuel and his boss got into a fight, and the boss then allegedly took him to the detention center.
“Wetin Emmanuel for that detention be say Emmanuel and him boss get issue. Wetin be the issue? Say they do account finish and money no balance, na him him boss carry am go drop am for there.”
D English Alhaji claims that Emmanuel was detained from the preceding Friday until the deaths were found on Thursday, September 17. Additionally, he stated that Emmanuel’s father made an unsuccessful attempt to convince his son’s employer.
He added that when the suspected illegal miners were brought in and put in the same cell, Emmanuel was already being detained at the facility.
“Na that place Emmanuel dey dem come bring the ‘illegal’ miners come add all of them inside one cell. Cell wey na small hole wey ventilation dey take enter.”
The remarks are made as an inquiry into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody is still underway. On September 15 and 16, 2026, the inmates were taken into custody during operations in the Minna neighbourhoods of M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto.
The reason of the fatalities has not yet been determined by the authorities. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the event have been requested, according to Niger State Governor Umar Bago, who stated that 67 persons were allegedly confined in the cell prior to 37 deaths.
D English Alhaji used the incident to urge Nigerians to put aside differences in ethnicity and religion in order to concentrate on solving the nation’s more general issues.
“Una see the reason I say make we come together as one fix this country. Make we keep tribalism one side, make we keep religion one side fix our country.”