*** 20 Officers Suspended as Panel gets two Weeks to Probe Deaths
The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 persons detained 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 in a statement on Saturday, saying the committee was constituted following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.
The deaths reportedly occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while the victims were in NSCDC custody.
Tunji-Ojo also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident, including the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, pending the outcome of the investigation.
He described the reported deaths as “deeply disturbing,” stressing that the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The committee is mandated to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrest, detention, as well as the causes and circumstances of their deaths.
It will also determine issues of responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee, chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, includes former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), who will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olayinka Buhari; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State Government.
Also on the panel are National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Public Affairs Analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee has two weeks to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.
It has also been empowered to co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected with the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.
The Minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the investigation and ordered that all records and material evidence relating to the incident be preserved.
He warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
Twenty officers, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, were listed as suspended.
They include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/OIC Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; DCC Obafemi Elvis; CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; and O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado.
Others are ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, 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 expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm as the investigation proceeds.
