Nigerian social commentator D English Alhaji has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the death of a man identified as Emmanuel, who was among the 37 detainees who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
In a video circulating online, D English Alhaji claimed that Emmanuel was not an illegal miner but was allegedly detained following a dispute with his employer over an account imbalance.
According to the social commentator, Emmanuel and his employer had a disagreement after allegedly completing an account, after which the employer reportedly took him to the detention facility.
“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’.”
D English Alhaji alleged that Emmanuel had remained in detention from the previous Friday until Thursday, September 17, when the deaths were discovered.
He further claimed that Emmanuel’s father had gone to plead with his son’s employer but was unable to secure his release.
According to his account, Emmanuel was already being held at the facility before the suspected illegal miners were brought in and placed in the same cell.
“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 claims have not been independently verified, and authorities have not publicly confirmed Emmanuel’s identity, the reason for his detention or whether he was among those arrested during the anti-illegal mining operation.
The development comes amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of 37 detainees in NSCDC custody in Minna.
The detainees were arrested during operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16 over suspected illegal mining activities.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago previously disclosed that 67 people had reportedly been detained in the facility before 37 died.
Authorities have yet to establish the definitive cause of the deaths. Medical, forensic and other investigations are ongoing, while the Federal Government has constituted an independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Several NSCDC officers have also been suspended pending the outcome of investigations.
D English Alhaji used the case to call for Nigerians to put aside ethnic and religious divisions and focus on broader issues affecting the country.
“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.”
The allegation concerning Emmanuel adds another account to the growing questions surrounding who was detained, why they were detained and the conditions in which the detainees were held before the deaths occurred.
How Emmanuel died in NSCDC detention 💔😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/OTDnJXr8im
— D English Alhaji Media (@DEngliishalhaji) September 19, 2026
The independent investigation is expected to establish the identities of all those who died, the circumstances of their arrests and detention, and the events that led to the deaths.
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