The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 persons held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State over alleged illegal mining.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, 17 September.
The minister also ordered the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other officers allegedly connected to the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation. The suspensions are administrative measures and do not, by themselves, establish culpability.
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, Tunji-Ojo said the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said the committee would establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention, as well as the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The panel has also been mandated to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and ordered that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to investigators.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
10-member committee
The committee is chaired by Mr Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as Secretary.
Other members are 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; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee may co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.
It has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
Suspended officers
In addition to the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, the 20 officers suspended are:
- SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, O/C Station Guard
- ASCI Hassan Mohammed, Station Guard
- CCA Bala Mohammed, Station Guard
- CSC Oluwadare Sunday, Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation
- DCC Obafemi Elvis, Arresting Officer
- CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, Arresting Officer
- DCC Philip Ajayi, HOD INT/INV
- ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, O/C Legal
- ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, Day/Night Duty Officer
- IC Abdullahi Sale, Guard Duty
- IC Mohammed Sonfada, Guard Duty
- CAI Liman Abubakar, Guard Duty
- CAI Bala Usman, Guard Duty
- IC Mohammed Jiya, Guard Duty
- DSC Isah Suleiman, Guard Duty
- CAI Ahmed Wushishi, Guard Duty
- IC Sale Adamu, Guard Duty
- IC Haruna Mohammed, Guard Duty
- ASCI Aliyu Sallah, Guard Duty
- CAI Isah Sanusi, Guard Duty.
The reported deaths have generated public concern, with the circumstances surrounding the incident still under investigation.
Earlier reports attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, while survivors and other accounts have raised questions about the conditions in which the detainees were held.
Authorities have said investigations are necessary to establish the actual cause and circumstances of the deaths.
Tunji-Ojo expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation continues.
