The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development in a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17.
The minister also ordered the suspension of all officers involved in the incident, including the Niger State Commandant of the Corps, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, Tunji-Ojo said the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said the committee would establish the identities of the deceased, investigate the circumstances of their arrests and detention, and determine the causes and circumstances of their deaths.
The panel is also expected to establish responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and other relevant officers to cooperate fully with the investigation and ensure that all records and material evidence connected to the incident were preserved and made available to the committee.
He warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Jonathan Kure, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Olayinka Buhari; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government; and the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman.
Also on the committee are lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, Blueprint Newspaper journalist Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino, and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee has been given two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the minister.
It is empowered to co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public.
