FG BEGINS PROBE INTO DEATHS OF 37 SUSPECTED MINERS IN NSCDC CUSTODY

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 people who were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps over suspected illegal mining activities in Niger State. The committee was constituted following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2026. The development followed growing concerns over the circumstances surrounding the deaths while the victims were in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command.

The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, serves as secretary. Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Professor Olayinka Buhari, representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria Liman Sulaiman, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, Blueprint journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino and public affairs analyst George Agbakahi.

The panel has been directed to establish the identities of all the deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention. It is also expected to determine the cause and circumstances of the deaths and establish whether responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct was involved. The committee may visit relevant locations, access facilities and official records, request memoranda from members of the public and bring in additional experts where necessary. It has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

The victims were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16. The 37 detainees were subsequently found dead on September 17. While the exact cause of death remains subject to investigation, the NSCDC initially suggested a possible disease outbreak, while accounts from survivors and other reports have raised concerns about overcrowding and poor ventilation at the detention facility. Authorities have stressed that the investigation is expected to establish the facts through evidence rather than relying on unverified claims.

The Federal Government has also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation, while the Corps has separately placed additional personnel in custody, bringing the number of NSCDC personnel detained in connection with the incident to 24. The government has ordered the preservation of records and other evidence and warned that anyone who attempts to destroy evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will face consequences. The probe is expected to determine accountability, recommend appropriate action and propose measures to prevent a recurrence.