The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The detainees died on September 17, 2026, after they were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16. The cause of the deaths has not been conclusively established.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, serves as secretary.
Other members include 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; and representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government.
The committee also includes the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper representative, Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst, George Agbakahi.
The Federal Government said the committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, and determine the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
It will also investigate possible responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.
The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior. It has also been empowered to visit relevant locations, access documents and other evidence, and invite memoranda from members of the public.
Tunji-Ojo had earlier directed that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to investigators. He also warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
The inauguration followed the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other personnel linked to the detention operation. The Federal Government said the officers would remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The incident has generated public concern and calls for an independent investigation. The Niger State Police Command has also taken over the scene and commenced a separate investigation following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
The police said the investigation would seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure accountability, transparency and respect for the constitutional rights of the deceased.
The circumstances of the deaths remain under investigation. Earlier accounts included an initial suggestion by the NSCDC of a possible disease outbreak, while survivors and other accounts raised concerns about the conditions in which detainees were held, including allegations of overcrowding and inadequate ventilation. These claims have not been established as the definitive cause of death.
The Federal Government has urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed, while the Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has appealed for calm and described the deaths as deeply painful.
The committee’s findings are expected to clarify what happened to the detainees, establish responsibility where applicable and determine measures to prevent a recurrence.
