By Augustine Ehikioya and Palma Ileye
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), Niger State Command, over alleged illegal mining.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development over the weekend, following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
He described the reported deaths as deeply disturbing, saying the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, the committee will establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrest, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
He said the panel would also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, while recommending appropriate action, including compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant Officers to fully cooperate with the committee, while all records and material evidence connected to the incident are to be preserved and made available to investigators.
“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, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, will serve as Secretary.
Other members are 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; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. 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. It may also co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.
Meanwhile, 20 additional NSCDC Officers have been suspended in addition to the Niger State Commandant of the Corps.
Those suspended include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/Officer-in-Charge of Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD Intelligence/Investigation, DCC Philip Ajayi; and Officer-in-Charge of Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado.
Others are Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; Guard Duty officers 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 investigation is ongoing.
