The Federal Government has appointed Professor Isa Hayatu Ciroma (SAN), human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju and eight other Nigerians to probe the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The move followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a full, transparent and independent investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the constitution of the investigative panel on Saturday, alongside the suspension of 20 NSCDC officers and the Niger State Commandant of the Corps.
The 10-member committee will be headed by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), while Ciroma, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
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Other members of the panel are 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.
The panel also has the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi, as members.
The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and eventual deaths.
It will also examine possible cases of responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate measures, including compensation where applicable.
The panel is further expected to propose measures that could prevent a recurrence of the incident.
Tunji-Ojo said the reported deaths were deeply disturbing, adding that the government had a responsibility to provide the families of the deceased and the wider public with a transparent account of what happened.
He directed the NSCDC authorities and all officers connected to the matter to cooperate with the investigation.
The minister also ordered that all records, documents and other material evidence relating to the incident be preserved and handed over to investigators.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” Tunji-Ojo warned.
The committee has two weeks to conclude its investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
It has the authority to invite additional experts, inspect relevant locations and facilities, obtain necessary documents and call for memoranda from members of the public.
The 20 NSCDC officers suspended include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/Officer-in-Charge of Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; and Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino.
Others are HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; Officer-in-Charge of Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; and Guard Duty officers 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 Minister of Interior expressed condolences to the families of those who died and urged the public to remain calm while the investigation is underway.
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