The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody in Niger State.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, was also suspended pending the conclusion of an independent investigation into the incident.
The suspensions were announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement issued on Saturday.
10-Member Panel to Probe Deaths
The minister said the suspensions would allow an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
A 10-member committee has been established to investigate the incident.
The panel is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine their arrest, detention and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
It will also determine whether there was any responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct.
The committee is expected to recommend appropriate action and compensation where applicable.
20 Officers Suspended
The 20 NSCDC officers suspended are:
- O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka
- Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed
- Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed
- Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday
- Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis
- Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino
- HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi
- O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado
- Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed
- Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale
- Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada
- Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar
- Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman
- Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya
- Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman
- Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi
- Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu
- Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed
- Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah
- Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi
How the Deaths Happened
The 37 deceased were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The Corps said the operation was part of efforts to tackle illegal mining and that various exhibits were recovered during the arrests.
The following day, some of the detainees were found dead while in NSCDC custody in Minna.
The NSCDC initially said the deaths followed a suspected disease outbreak. It added that the bodies were taken to the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
However, the cause of the deaths had not been officially established.
Survivor Gives Account
A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told journalists that detainees had been kept in a poorly ventilated cell and struggled to breathe.
His account has not been established as the official cause of the deaths.
The independent investigation is expected to determine what happened and establish responsibility, if any.
The suspended officers will remain out of duty pending the conclusion of the investigation.
