FG Sets Up Independent Panel to Probe Deaths of 37 in NSCDC Custody, Suspends 20 Officers
By Naijagossiper Official ยท
The Federal Government has established an independent 10-member committee to investigate the deaths of 37 people who were being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State over suspected illegal mining.
The investigation follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive and transparent inquiry into the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2026.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the committee and ordered the suspension of 20 NSCDC officers connected with the incident, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to the Federal Government, the panel will establish the identities of those who died and examine how they were arrested, detained and ultimately died. It will also investigate whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or other forms of responsibility contributed to the incident.
The committee has been authorised to recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable, and measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Who Is on the Investigation Panel?
The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a professor of histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government; Miners Association of Nigeria National Secretary Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper's Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
The panel can invite additional experts, inspect relevant locations, examine records and documents, and receive information from members of the public. It has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
20 NSCDC Officers Suspended
The suspended personnel include officers involved in station security, arrests, investigations, legal duties and guard duties.
Among those named are SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, ASCI Hassan Mohammed, CCA Bala Mohammed, CSC Oluwadare Sunday, DCC Obafemi Elvis, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, DCC Philip Ajayi, ACC Barrister Stephen Tsado and ASCI Alhassan Mohammed.
Eleven additional officers assigned to guard duties were also suspended, including 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 Interior Minister has ordered NSCDC officials to cooperate fully with the investigation and preserve all records and evidence connected to the incident.
He also warned that attempts to destroy evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct investigators would be treated as a serious offence.
What This Means for Nigerians
The investigation is expected to establish what happened to the 37 detainees and whether any official misconduct, negligence or failure in the handling of the detainees contributed to their deaths.
Importantly, the government has not yet established the final cause of death. That question is specifically part of the independent committee's mandate. The findings of the investigation should therefore be awaited before a definitive cause is attributed to the deaths.
The Federal Government has appealed for calm and expressed condolences to the families of those who died.