No fewer than 10 miners sustained injuries in a clash with mining Marshals of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Gada-Eregi, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident, which happened Thursday morning, led to blockade on the Minna-Bida road for several hours by miners who demanded justice for the injured colleagues.

Local sources told Daily Trust that the crisis was triggered by attempts to arrest the miners for alleged illegal mining.

SPONSOR AD

Daily Trust gathered that a patrol vehicle of the NSCDC officials was damaged by the angry miners.

Niger State Command of NSCDC confirmed the incident but denied the shooting by its personnel.

The Command’s Public Relations officer , DSC Abubakar Rabiu Muti, said even in the face of violent confrontation that eventually led to the damage of their patrol vehicle, the officers exercised restraint.

“On October 16, 2025, at approximately 9:22 am, our personnel were attacked by hoodlums while attempting to arrest suspects engaged in illegal mining activities. Despite being attacked, our personnel exercised restraint and pulled out of the area without escalating the situation.

“We wish to clarify that there was no loss of life or injury to civilians during this incident. Our personnel acted professionally, and the damage reported was limited to our vehicles.

“The NSCDC Niger State Command urges the public to disregard the false information being spread and appreciates the support and understanding of the general public in this matter. We remain committed to protecting the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure,” Muti said.