The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State.
The panel was set up by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.
The 37 people were reportedly in NSCDC custody on suspicion of illegal mining when the deaths occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The committee has been tasked with establishing the identities of the deceased and determining the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.
It is also expected to establish whether responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct was involved and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Minister 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.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, mni, while former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, will serve as secretary.
Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; 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 may co-opt relevant experts, visit locations connected to the incident, access facilities and documents, and request memoranda from members of the public.
It has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo has also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and ordered that all records and material evidence linked to the incident be preserved.
He warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
NSCDC officers suspended
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the Minister has ordered the suspension of the NSCDC Niger State Commandant and 20 other officers connected to the incident.
Those suspended include officers responsible for station guard duties, arrests and investigations, intelligence and investigations, legal duties and other aspects of the custody operation.
The suspension is an administrative measure pending the committee’s findings and does not, by itself, establish individual culpability.
The full list of suspended officers includes:
- O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka
- Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed
- Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed
- Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday
- Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis
- Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino
- HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi
- O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado
- Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed
- Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale
- Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada
- Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar
- Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman
- Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya
- Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman
- Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi
- Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu
- Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed
- Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah
- Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi
The Federal Government has appealed for calm as the investigation gets underway and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.