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Niger tragedy: HOMEF seeks end to destructive extractivism, Commissioner wants welfare of persons in custody – EnviroNews
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Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has condemned the reported deaths of 37 young miners arrested over alleged illegal mining in Niger State, describing the tragedy as another warning of the devastating human and ecological costs of Nigeria’s extractive economy.
The victims, aged between 14 and 20, reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following raids on suspected illegal mining sites in the Wushishi-Lukoto area of Niger State. While the cause of their deaths remains subject to investigation, the incident must prompt deeper questions about the conditions that drive young people into hazardous mining and the extractive model that continues to place human lives and ecosystems at risk.
HOMEF Executive Director, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said the tragedy should not be viewed solely through the lens of illegal mining or security enforcement, but as part of a wider crisis created by destructive extractivism.
“We must stop treating extraction as the pathway to development while ignoring the lives, lands and ecosystems sacrificed in the process. Whether it is oil, gold or critical minerals, an economic model that destroys the ecological foundations of life cannot be the future we seek. Nigeria must not reproduce the history of the Niger Delta by replacing oil with minerals while leaving communities to bear pollution, dispossession, livelihood losses and ecological destruction,” he said.
Dr Bassey added: “The deaths underscore the urgent need to address the poverty, livelihood insecurity and economic exclusion that push people into dangerous and informal mining, while confronting the environmental destruction associated with unregulated extraction. Stopping illegal mining cannot mean simply replacing miners with more destructive industrial extraction. Nigeria must instead question an extractive model that prioritises mineral wealth while communities bear the costs through degraded forests, polluted water, damaged farmlands, unsafe working conditions and lost livelihoods.”
HOMEF urged the government to ensure that no person taken into custody during mining enforcement operations loses their life through neglect or unsafe detention conditions. The circumstances surrounding the deaths must be independently and transparently investigated, with accountability established where wrongdoing or negligence is found, and a fundamental shift from extract, exploit and abandon towards ecological protection, restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
HOMEF therefore called on the Federal and Niger State Governments to:
- Conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of the 37 detainees and establish accountability for any violations, negligence or other wrongdoing.
- Address the socioeconomic drivers of hazardous mining, particularly poverty, unemployment and the loss of sustainable livelihood opportunities.
- Halt destructive mining practices that degrade forests, farmlands, water bodies and other ecological systems, and ensure that mining does not proceed in ecologically sensitive and community-dependent territories.
- Strengthen environmental monitoring, enforcement and restoration in mining-affected communities, with polluters and operators held responsible for ecological damage.
- Ensure meaningful participation of affected communities in decisions concerning mineral extraction, including their right to determine what happens to their territories.
- Invest in non-extractive and sustainable livelihoods that reduce dependence on hazardous mining and strengthen community economies.
HOMEF maintained that Nigeria cannot address the crisis of illegal mining without confronting the deeper crisis of extractivism.
In a related development, Hajiya Hadiza Kuta, Niger State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, has called for the protection of the rights, dignity and welfare of persons in custody in accordance with the law.
Kuta made the call while expressing condolences over the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Hadiza Shiru, issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, in Minna.
The commissioner condoled with Gov. Umaru Bago, the bereaved families and the people of the state over the incident, describing the deaths as deeply painful and unfortunate.
Kuta urged residents to remain calm and allow the ongoing independent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to Kuta, every human life is precious, saying that persons in custody are entitled to humane treatment and protection of their fundamental rights.
She expressed hope that the investigation would be thorough, transparent and conclusive to establish the facts surrounding the incident and provide clarity on the circumstances that led to the deaths.
The commissioner also prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased and grant them Aljannah Firdaus, while giving their families the strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Kuta urged the people of Niger to remain peaceful and united, particularly at a time when the incident had generated concern among residents.
She assured the people of the state of the ministry’s continued commitment to the protection and welfare of women, children, vulnerable persons and other citizens.
The commissioner reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting efforts that promote peace, social protection, safety, dignity and the overall wellbeing of citizens across the state.
