FG constitutes 10-member panel to probe deaths of 37 in NSCDC custody, suspends 20 officers

By Zagazola Makama

The Federal Government 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.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development in a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17.

The Minister also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation, in addition to the earlier suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC.

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 what happened.

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 expected to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct, and recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.

The Minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant personnel to fully cooperate with the investigation and ensure that all records and material evidence connected to the incident are preserved and made available to the panel.

“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” the Minister 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 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 has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.

It has also been empowered to co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.

Meanwhile, 20 additional NSCDC personnel have been suspended in connection with the incident.

Those suspended include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard personnel ASCI Hassan Mohammed and CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/OIC Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officers DCC Obafemi Elvis and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD Intelligence/Investigation, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; and Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed.

Others 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.

The Minister expressed condolences to the families of those who died and appealed for calm as the independent investigation gets underway.

FG constitutes 10-member panel to probe deaths of 37 in NSCDC custody, suspends 20 officers