Dozens of suspected illegal miners die in Nigerian custody
Authorities linked the deaths to disease, but this has been disputed by intelligence reports and relatives of the accused.
Families gathered outside the hospital, where the bodies have been taken
Thirty-seven people accused of illegal mining in north-central Nigeria have died in custody, official say.
Police have set up an investigation into the deaths, which the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) blamed on an apparent disease outbreak.
However, an intelligence report shared with AFP news agency suggested the group had died because of overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the detention facility in Niger state.
The deaths have sparked disturbances including attacks on public buildings, and a 24-hour curfew has been put in place in the state capital, Minna, as a result.
On Tuesday, a group of young men were arrested for suspected illegal mining near Borgu - a part of Niger state known for small-scale gold mining.