The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, 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 alleged illegal mining activities.
The development follows a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
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The Minister also ordered the suspension of all officers linked to the incident, including the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
In a statement issued on Saturday, September 19, Tunji-Ojo described the reported deaths as deeply disturbing, saying the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what transpired.
He said the committee would establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.
The committee is also mandated to determine 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 relevant officers to fully cooperate with the investigation. He also ordered that all records and material evidence relating to the incident be preserved and made available to the committee.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
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The committee is 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 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; and a representative of the Niger State Government.
The committee also includes Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the 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 may co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.
It has been given two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.
Meanwhile, 20 NSCDC officers, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, have been suspended over the incident.
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; and Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis.
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Others are CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, DCC Philip Ajayi, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, 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 to the public to remain calm while the investigation is ongoing.