Following the deaths of 37 individuals held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Niger State Command, on suspicion of illegal mining, the federal government has constituted a ten-member committee to investigate the incident.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed the move on Saturday, following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday.
According to a statement by the Minister, the federal government directed the immediate suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the committee’s investigation.
The suspensions affected 21 officers, including the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, station guards, arresting officers, and guard duty personnel.
While describing the deaths as disturbing, Tunji-Ojo stated that the government owes the families of the deceased and the public a transparent account of the events leading to the tragic incident.
He further stressed that the independent committee is tasked with establishing the identities of the deceased and investigating their arrests, detention, and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The committee was also mandated to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
The committee is chaired by Mr. Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, with Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, serving as Secretary.
Other members include AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired), Prof. Olayinka Buhari, 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.
Others include 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, Public Affairs Analyst.
The suspended officers, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, are: 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, Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino,
Others are HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi, O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, Guard Duty, 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 and Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi.
The Minister extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm amid the investigation.
FG launches probe into 37 deaths in NSCDC custody, suspends 21