FG Constitutes Panel To Probe Deaths Of 37 People In NSCDC Custody

The Federal Government has constituted an independent investigative panel to probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 people who were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The government also released the names of NSCDC officers suspended in connection with the incident, directing them to account for their actions or inactions regarding the deaths.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the 10-member independent committee was constituted in line with a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the minister, the panel is mandated to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people held by the NSCDC, Niger State Command, on suspicion of illegal mining.

Tunji-Ojo said the investigation followed the President’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered probe into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

He also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent investigation.

Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, the minister said the government owed the families of the deceased and Nigerians a transparent account of the events that led to the incident.

The panel is expected 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 or misconduct and recommend appropriate actions, including compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.

Tunji-Ojo directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee.

He further ordered 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,” the minister warned.

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

Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; a representative of the Niger State Government; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr George Agbakahi, a public affairs analyst.

Tunji-Ojo said the committee could co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public.

He added that the committee had two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Ministry of Interior.

Meanwhile, the minister also announced the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and other officers linked to the incident.

The suspended officers are the Officer-in-Charge, Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/Officer-in-Charge of Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; Head of Intelligence and Investigation, DCC Philip Ajayi; and Officer-in-Charge of Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado.

Others are Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; Guard Duty officers 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 minister extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation is ongoing.