By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
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 Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the probe on Saturday, 19 September, 2026, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, 17 September, 2026
The victims were reportedly being held on suspicion of illegal mining.
Tunji-Ojo also ordered the suspension of all officers involved in the incident, including the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, pending the outcome of the investigation.
He described the deaths as deeply disturbing, saying the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The committee is mandated to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrest, detention, and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
It will also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and ordered that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be 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 will be 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; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and 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 Public Affairs Analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee may co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public.
It has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report to the minister.
In addition to the Niger State Commandant, 20 other NSCDC officers have been suspended over their alleged involvement in the incident.
Among them are: SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard; ASCI Hassan Mohammed, Station Guard; CCA Bala Mohammed, Station Guard; CSC Oluwadare Sunday, Arresting Officer and Officer-in-Charge of Investigation; DCC Obafemi Elvis, Arresting Officer; and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, Arresting Officer.
Others are: DCC Philip Ajayi, Head of Intelligence/Investigation; ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, Officer-in-Charge of Legal; ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, Day/Night Duty Officer; 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 officers.
Tunji-Ojo condoled with the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the independent investigation continues.
