The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State over alleged illegal mining.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the investigation on Saturday, following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered probe into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo also ordered the suspension of 20 NSCDC officers involved in the arrests, detention and supervision of the detainees, in addition to the Niger State Commandant of the Corps.
The committee, chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Jonathan Kure, mni, is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and determine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.
It will also investigate possible responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report to the minister.
Its members include former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), who will serve as secretary; retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Olayinka Buhari; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government; National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper’s Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee has been empowered to co-opt experts, access relevant facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to fully cooperate with the investigation and ordered that all records and material evidence relating to the incident be preserved.
He warned that anyone who attempts to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would face serious consequences.
Those suspended 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; Arresting Officers DCC Obafemi Elvis and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C 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.
Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as deeply disturbing, saying the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what happened.
He expressed condolences to the families and appealed for calm while the investigation is ongoing.