…Minister Suspends Commandant, 20 Others Pending Independent Probe
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 over the reported deaths of 37 people in the Corps’ custody.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the officers were suspended pending the conclusion of an independent investigation into the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the Ministry of Interior announced the suspension in a statement signed by the minister on Saturday. The statement said the suspension was in addition to the setting up of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident. The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrest, detention, as well as the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The minister also directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and recommend appropriate action and compensation where applicable. The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Aniviye, had earlier been suspended.
The 20 other NSCDC 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; and 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 NSCDC initially said the deaths followed a suspected disease outbreak, but the cause remained unconfirmed. The deaths sparked protests in Minna, with the Niger State Government subsequently imposing a curfew.
Source verification: Original reporting based on an official statement by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting on security and governance matters.
Byline: By CDA News Nigeria Correspondent
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