FG Suspends 20 NSCDC Officers Over Deaths of 37 Suspected Illegal Miners
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and inaugurated a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 people detained by the Corps in Niger State over alleged illegal mining.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the measures on Saturday, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as deeply disturbing, stressing that the government has a responsibility to establish what happened and provide answers to the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public.
He ordered the immediate suspension of all officers linked to the incident pending the outcome of the investigation and warned NSCDC personnel against interfering with the process.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” the minister said.
The committee will investigate the identities of the deceased, the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, and the cause of their deaths. It will also determine whether there was negligence, misconduct, complicity or other forms of responsibility and recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where necessary, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee is chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director General, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Ciroma, SAN, a former Director General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as Secretary.
Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a histopathologist 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, Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
The panel has been given two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior. It may also invite experts, inspect relevant locations, access official records and documents, and receive memoranda from members of the public.
Among the suspended officers are the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard officers ASCI Hassan Mohammed and CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/OIC Investigation CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer DCC Obafemi Elvis; Arresting Officer CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD INT/INV DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal Barr. Stephen Tsado; and Day/Night Duty Officer ASCI Alhassan Mohammed.
Several other officers assigned to guard duties were also suspended as part of the investigation.
The Minister urged the public to remain calm while the inquiry is underway and expressed condolences to the families of those who died.
