The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 20 other officers following the reported deaths of 37 detainees in the Corps’ custody.
The officers were suspended pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the deaths, which were reported on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The Ministry of Interior announced the suspensions in a statement signed by Tunji-Ojo on Saturday.
The minister also constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to the statement, the committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine the circumstances of their arrest and detention, as well as the cause and manner of their deaths.
It will also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, had earlier been suspended.
The 20 other officers suspended are:
- 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
- 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 37 deceased were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested by the NSCDC Niger State Command during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16.
The Corps said the operation was part of efforts to curb illegal mining and that various exhibits were recovered during the arrests.
The following day, some of the detainees were found dead while in NSCDC custody in Minna.
The NSCDC initially said the deaths followed a suspected disease outbreak and that the bodies had been taken to General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to determine the cause of death.
However, the cause of the deaths had not been officially established.
A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told journalists that detainees had been held in a poorly ventilated cell and struggled to breathe. His account has not been independently established as the cause of the deaths.
Another survivor alleged that a substance resembling perfume was sprayed inside an overcrowded cell shortly before some detainees began collapsing. The allegation has also not been independently verified.
The deaths triggered protests in Minna, prompting the Niger State Government to impose a curfew following unrest.
Governor Umar Bago confirmed the reported death toll and ordered a state-level inquiry into the incident.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed a comprehensive investigation, while the Minister of Interior suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and the other officers pending the outcome of the probe.
Tunji-Ojo also inaugurated the 10-member independent committee to establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the detainees and determine whether any officials were responsible for wrongdoing or negligence.
