The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the death of 37 persons arrested for illegal mining in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the committee in a statement on Saturday.
According to the minister, the committee is chaired by Mr Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigerian 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, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist, Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper, and Dr George Agbakahi, a public affairs analyst.
The Minna Emirate Council and the Niger State Government are also expected to nominate representatives to the committee.
The committee may co-opt relevant experts, access all necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public.
It has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.
“The independent committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He said the committee is to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent recurrence.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and to preserve and make available 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.
He said the constitution of the committee followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo also announced the suspension of 20 NSCDC officers, including the Niger State Commandant, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Those suspended are SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, O/C Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed, Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed, Station Guard, CSC Oluwadare Sunday, Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, DCC Obafemi Elvis, Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, Arresting Officer, DCC Philip Ajayi, HOD INT/INV, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, O/C Legal, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, Day/Night Duty Officer, 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, and CAI Isah Sanusi, Guard Duty.
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 the incident, while extending his condolences and appealing for calm
