Niger Deaths: Interior Minister Constitutes 10-Member Panel, Suspends 21 NSCDC Officers
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 persons detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, over alleged illegal mining activities.
The development follows 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, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as deeply disturbing, stressing that the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what led to the incident.
The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths. It will also determine any 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 committee and ensure that all records and material evidence connected to the incident are 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 retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, mni, 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; a representative of the Niger State Government; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist 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 receive memoranda from members of the public.
It has been given two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.
In addition to the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, 20 other officers have been suspended. They include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard officers ASCI Hassan Mohammed and CCA Bala Mohammed; arresting and investigation officers CSC Oluwadare Sunday, DCC Obafemi Elvis and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; and other officers assigned to day/night and guard duties.
The Minister expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm as the independent investigation gets underway.
Signed: Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo Honourable Minister of Interior Federal Republic of Nigeria September 19, 2026
Niger Deaths: Interior Minister Constitutes 10-Member Panel, Suspends 21 NSCDC Officers