FG Sets Up Panel to Probe Deaths of 37 in NSCDC Custody

The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people held in the custody of 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 Friday, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The minister also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Tunji-Ojo described the reported deaths as “deeply disturbing”, stressing that the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what led to the incident.

The committee is 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, as well as recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.

The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while a former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), will serve as secretary.

Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olayinka Buhari; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State Government.

Others are the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper’s Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.

The committee may co-opt relevant experts, access facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.

It has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.

The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee, while ordering the preservation and release of all records and material evidence linked to the incident.

He warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.

In addition to the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, 20 officers have been suspended over the incident.

Those suspended include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard officers ASCI Hassan Mohammed and CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/O-C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino.

Others are HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; and 11 other officers assigned to guard duties.

The minister extended condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm as the independent investigation proceeds.