Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has imposed a 24-hour curfew across the Minna metropolis, effective immediately following Jumu’ah prayers on Friday, September 18, 2026, to restore order after violent protests erupted across the state capital. ​
The breakdown of order was triggered by news of the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Demonstrations intensified as bodies were transferred to local mortuaries, resulting in youth-led unrest and the destruction of property in key areas, including near the illegal mining site around the M.I. Wushishi housing estate.
​Official statements and security response Confirming the directive, Abdullbergy Usman Ebbo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Media and Strategy, stated: ​”The Niger State government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Minna.
The curfew becomes effective immediately after Juma’at prayer. Residents are strongly advised to comply strictly with the directives to avoid further breakdown of law and order.” ​
Governor Bago addressed the public directly from Government House in Minna, noting that an investigation into the fatalities is underway: ​”The most important thing is that people died in the custody of the Civil Defence Corps.
They were detained in their cells, and this morning we woke up to the news that 37 of them had died… It could be as a result of suffocation because there were so many in a cell, but we must await forensic and medical examinations, including autopsies, to establish the scientific cause.” ​
In response to the tragedy, key measures have been taken by state and federal authorities. Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and his operational team have been suspended to ensure an unhindered investigation.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered NSCDC Commandant General Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi to launch a full-scale inquiry and summoned key officers to Abuja.
The illegal mining grounds at the M.I. Wushishi estate have been shut down indefinitely by state authorities. ​Security personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and joint task forces have been deployed across Minna to enforce the restriction and guard critical infrastructure until further notice.
