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 investigation follows a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered probe into the incident, which reportedly occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who announced the constitution of the committee, also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.
Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as deeply disturbing, stressing that the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what transpired.
The committee has been mandated to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths. It is also expected to determine any responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to provide full cooperation to the committee. He further ordered the preservation and release of all records and material evidence relating to the incident.
He warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
The committee is chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; 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; 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 Dr George Agbakahi, a public affairs analyst.
The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior. It is 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.
Meanwhile, 20 additional NSCDC officers have been suspended, alongside the Niger State Commandant of the Corps.
Those suspended include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard officers ASCI Hassan Mohammed and CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/Officer-in-Charge of Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officers DCC Obafemi Elvis and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; Head of Intelligence/Investigation, DCC Philip Ajayi; Officer-in-Charge of Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; and Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed.
Others are 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 while the independent investigation proceeds.
