The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has suspended 21 officers, including the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody.
The suspension was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the incident.
Tunji-Ojo also approved the constitution of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, following the arrest and detention of the suspects during operations against illegal mining in Niger State.
In a statement signed by the minister, the committee was mandated to establish the identities of the deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and subsequent deaths.
It is also expected to determine whether there was any negligence, misconduct, complicity or other form of responsibility by any individual or authority, and recommend appropriate sanctions and compensation where necessary.
Among the 20 other officers suspended are the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/OIC Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; and Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis.
Others include CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, DCC Philip Ajayi, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, 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.
The deceased were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested by the Niger State Command of the NSCDC during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas on September 15 and 16.
The Corps had said the operations were conducted as part of efforts to curb illegal mining, adding that several exhibits were recovered from the suspects.
The following day, 37 detainees were reportedly found dead while in NSCDC custody in Minna.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, saying the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.
However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths remained under investigation.
A survivor, Dauda Shehu, reportedly said detainees were held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell where some struggled to breathe. Another survivor alleged that a substance resembling perfume was sprayed inside the cell shortly before some detainees began collapsing. The accounts have not been independently established as the official cause of death.
The incident triggered protests in Minna, following which the Niger State Government imposed a curfew amid rising tension.
Governor Umaru Bago also confirmed the death toll and ordered a state-level investigation into the incident.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed a comprehensive investigation into the deaths.
