The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State over suspected illegal mining.
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the committee on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident of September 17.
The deaths occurred after the detainees were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in parts of Niger State. The exact cause and circumstances of the deaths remain subject to investigation.
Tunji-Ojo said the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what happened, describing the incident as deeply disturbing.
He mandated the committee to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests and detention, as well as determine the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The panel is also expected to establish whether there was responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct in connection with the incident and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all officers concerned to cooperate fully with the investigation. He also ordered the preservation and release of all records and material evidence relating to the incident.
Tunji-Ojo warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
The minister also announced the suspension of 20 NSCDC officers, in addition to the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, pending the outcome of the investigation. The suspension is not a finding of guilt and is intended to allow the investigation to proceed.
The suspended officers 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
- 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
- Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi
The committee will be chaired by Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Prof. 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 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, visit locations connected with the incident, access necessary documents and facilities, and receive memoranda from members of the public.
It has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
The minister expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation proceeds.
