Anger and concern have continued to trail the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, as the Federal Government suspended 20 officers and ordered an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The government has also constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The measures followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the deaths.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who announced the measures, described the incident as deeply disturbing, stressing that the government owed the families of the deceased and Nigerians a transparent account of what happened.
The minister directed the suspension of all officers connected with the incident pending the outcome of the investigation and warned the leadership of the NSCDC against interfering with the process.
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He said any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
The NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers were also directed to cooperate fully with the committee and preserve all records and material evidence connected with the incident.
The minister appealed for calm while the independent committee conducts its assignment.
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Committee to Determine Circumstances of Deaths
The committee has been mandated to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.
It is also expected to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
It is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, while a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, serves as secretary.
Other members include 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; National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman; human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
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The committee may also co-opt relevant experts, access facilities and documents, visit locations connected with the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.
20 Officers Suspended
Among the suspended officers is the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, alongside officers involved in arrest, investigation, legal and custodial duties.
The government, however, stressed that the suspension of the affected officers was pending the outcome of the investigation and did not amount to a determination of their culpability.
The investigation is expected to examine the arrests, detention conditions, medical attention provided to the detainees and events leading to their deaths, while determining whether official misconduct, negligence or other violations occurred.
Adeyanju Rejects Payment
Human rights lawyer and committee member Deji Adeyanju said he would not accept any financial benefit from his participation in the investigation.
Adeyanju, who confirmed his acceptance of the appointment, said he joined the committee to ensure that the interests of the victims were protected and that the circumstances surrounding their deaths were established.
He urged the government not to make monetary provisions, stipends or honoraria for members of the committee, describing the assignment as a national duty.
Adeyanju said he would personally bear the costs of his participation, including accommodation, transportation and other expenses.
He also warned that any attempt to shield those responsible or suppress the truth would be exposed.
New NSCDC Commandant Assumes Office
Meanwhile, the NSCDC has deployed Abdulhamid Kabara as the new Commandant of its Niger State Command.
Kabara’s deployment followed the suspension of Suberu Aniviye.
NSCDC spokesperson in Niger State, Abubakar Muti, said Kabara formally assumed office and took over the command on Friday, September 18.
Muti said the new commandant expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives and extended his sympathy to the families of the deceased and everyone affected by the incident.
Atiku Demands Wider Accountability
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the incident goes beyond the suspension of the officers already announced by the Federal Government.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigerians must know how the 37 people who entered government custody alive ended up dead and who within the chain of command should answer for their fate.
Atiku called for an independent criminal investigation into allegations that the detainees were held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell.
He said the investigation should establish who authorised the operation, who ordered the arrests, how many people were detained and who was responsible for their welfare.
He also called for the preservation of detention registers, operational and communication records, medical reports and available surveillance footage, as well as independent autopsies and representation for the victims’ families.
Northern Senators Demand Independent Investigation
The Northern Senators Forum, representing senators from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, also called for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation.
The forum said the circumstances surrounding the deaths must be fully established, including who ordered the arrests, where the detainees were taken, who authorised their detention and whether the facility was fit for human habitation.
It also called for independent autopsies for all 37 victims, with representatives of the families and independent pathologists allowed to participate.
The senators said anyone found responsible for criminal negligence, unlawful detention, reckless conduct or deliberate actions contributing to the deaths should face prosecution irrespective of rank or position.
APM Alleges 66 Detainees Were Crammed Into Cell
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) alleged that 66 detainees were crammed into a cell, with 37 subsequently dying from excessive heat.
The party also claimed that some detainees were sprayed with an unidentified substance before collapsing.
APM called for an open, transparent and unrestricted investigation into the deaths and condemned the reported use of tear gas and ammunition by security personnel during protests over the incident.
Wider Mining-Related Deaths
The Media for Social Change Foundation has also called for transparent investigations into recent mining-related deaths in Kogi and Taraba states, in addition to the Niger State incident.
The foundation expressed concern over reports of more than 20 miners dying in separate pit collapses in Kogi and Taraba, alongside the reported deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Niger.
It said the incidents should prompt authorities to examine not only illegal mining and enforcement but also the conditions exposing miners and mining communities to danger.
The organization noted that the actual cause of the Niger deaths had yet to be established, with forensic examinations and autopsies being conducted.
Protests Erupt in Minna
The incident also triggered protests in Minna, where security personnel reportedly used tear gas to disperse demonstrators who gathered over the deaths.
The protests were followed by unrest, prompting the Niger State Government to impose a curfew.
The demonstrations, which began on Thursday night and continued on Friday, were reported in Tunga, Maitumbi and along Bosso Road, with youths chanting, “Justice must be done,” as anger grew over the deaths.
The independent investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths and determine responsibility where wrongdoing is found.
