By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 persons held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, over suspected illegal mining.
According to an official statement signed by the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the committee was constituted following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
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.
Tunji-Ojo described the reported deaths as deeply disturbing, stressing that the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said the committee would establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances of their arrest and detention, as well as determine the causes and circumstances of their deaths.
The committee is also mandated to establish responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend 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 cooperate fully with the investigation, while ordering the preservation and release of all records and material evidence connected to the incident.
“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, 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 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; Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
The committee, which has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister, may 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 connection with the incident, bringing the disciplinary action beyond the earlier suspension of the Niger State Commandant.
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/O/C 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.
Also suspended 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, all listed as guard-duty personnel.
Tunji-Ojo expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm as the independent investigation proceeds.
