The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 people detained by the Niger State Command over alleged illegal mining.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the measures on Saturday following a directive from President Bola Tinubu for a “comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation” into the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as deeply disturbing, saying the government owes the families of the deceased and Nigerians a transparent account of what happened.
He directed that all officers linked to the incident remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and warned NSCDC personnel against interfering with the process.
The minister said any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence. He also directed the Corps to preserve all relevant records and evidence and cooperate fully with the committee.
The panel is mandated to establish the identities of the deceased, investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, determine the causes of death and establish whether there was responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct.
It will also recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence. The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
The panel is chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Ciroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a professor of histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government; National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper’s Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
Among those suspended are the Niger State Commandant, the O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; and Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino.
Also suspended are HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, Barrister Stephen Tsado; Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; and several officers assigned to guard duties.
The committee may co-opt additional experts, visit relevant locations, access necessary facilities and documents, and invite memoranda from members of the public.
Tunji-Ojo expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation proceeds.