The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people held by the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on suspicion of illegal mining.
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement on Saturday, also said 20 officers of the NSCDC, Niger Command have been suspended.
Tunji-Ojo added that the committee was set up following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for “a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation” into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, the Minister said the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident.
Tunji-Ojo directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation, and warned the Corps’ leadership and officers against any interference with the process.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned, while directing the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and to preserve all records and material evidence connected to the incident for investigators.
According to the statement, the independent committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention, and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The minister further directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee is chaired by Mr Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director General of the Department of State Services DSS, with Prof. Isa Hayatu Ciroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN and former Director General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary.
Other members are AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired); Prof. Olayinka Buhari, a professor of histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; a representative of the Niger State Government; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr George Agbakahi, a public affairs analyst.
The statement said the committee may co-opt relevant experts, access all necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public, and has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report to the Minister.
Among those suspended, in addition to the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, are 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. Others are HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, Barr. Stephen Tsado; Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; and a string of officers listed for guard duty, including IC Abdullahi Sale, IC Mohammed Sonfada, CAI Liman Abubakar, CAI Bala Usman, IC Mohammed Jiya, DSC Isah Suleiman, CAI Ahmed Wushishi, IC Sale Adamu, IC Haruna Mohammed, ASCI Aliyu Sallah and CAI Isah Sanusi.
The Minister extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation continues.
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