Miners’ death: FG sets up 10-member probe panel, suspends 20 NSCDC officials

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Federal Government on Saturday announced the constitution of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the death of 37 people arrested for illegal mining in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the constitution of the committee headed by Mr Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of Department of State Services, DSS as Chairman in a statement on Saturday.

He also released the names of 20 officers of NSCDC who have been suspended alongside Commandant of the Corps in the state over the death of the miners.

As contained in the Minister’s statement, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), a former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School will serve as Secretary of the Committee.

Other members of the Committee are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, the National Secretary of Miners Association of Nigeria.

The others are Mr. Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist, Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper and Dr. George Agbakahi, a Public Affairs Analyst.

The Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government are also expected to nominate a representative to the committee.

The Minister added that the Committee may co-opt relevant experts, access all necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public in the course of its assignment.

The Committee, according to the statement, has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report.

“The independent committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The Minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.

He also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee, while further directing that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the investigators.

“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.

Tunji-Ojo said the constitution of the committee followed a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, 17 September 2026.

The Minister also directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.

Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, Tunji-Ojo said the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident.

Aside the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, the Minister identified other NSCDC suspended over the death of the miners to include 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 and Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino.

Also suspended were HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi, O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed and Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale.

Also suspended were Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada, Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar, Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman, Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya, and Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman.

The others are Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi, Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu, Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed, Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah and Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi

The Minister also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and appeals for calm while the investigation continues in the statement.