FG Sets Up Committee To Probe Death Of 37 Suspects In NSCDC Custody, Suspends 20 Officers

The Federal Government has constituted a ten-member independent committee to investigate the reported death of 37 people in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Niger State Command.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the committee on September 19, 2026, following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The deceased were arrested on suspicion of illegal mining.

The Minister also ordered the suspension of all officers linked to the incident, including the Niger State Commandant, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as deeply disturbing, saying government owes the families of the deceased and Nigerians a transparent account of what happened.

According to the press statement from the Ministry of Interior, the committee is mandated to establish the identities of the deceased, investigate their arrest and detention, and determine the cause and circumstances of their deaths.

The committee will also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent future occurrence.

The Minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and to preserve all records and material evidence connected to the incident.

He warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence.

Members of the committee are:

Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, retired Deputy Director-General, Department of State Services, as Chairman

Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma SAN, former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary

AIG Hosea Hassan Karma retired

Prof Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Representative of the Minna Emirate Council

Representative of the Niger State Government

Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria

Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist

Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper

Dr George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst

The committee has the power to co-opt experts, access facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public. It has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.

List of suspended officers:

In addition to the Niger State Commandant, the following 20 officers have been suspended:

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

Day/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

The Minister extended condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while investigation continues.