NSCDC Commandant suspended as 37 suspected illegal miners die in custody

THE Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suberu Aniviye, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody.

The incident reportedly occurred at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the state capital, in the early hours of Thursday.

Governor Umar Bago on Thursday confirmed the death of the arrested illegal miners during a press briefing in Minna.

Bago condoled with families of the victims over loss of their loved ones.

The Interior Minister in a statement issued on Friday by the his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.

According to the statement, the suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.

“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.

“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” the minister declared.

Tunji-Ojo urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding to allow for a transparent investigation.

He also commiserated with the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the families and relatives of the deceased.

Reports had put the number of suspected illegal miners who died in custody at no fewer than 33, while the NSCDC did not give a specific figure.

The deaths had earlier prompted the NSCDC to constitute an investigative team to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In a statement on Thursday, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said the team, led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, was mandated to conduct a comprehensive inquiry.

The investigation was to cover the condition of the suspects upon arrest, their period in custody, the conditions of detention, medical attention provided to them and other circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The NSCDC had also cautioned against speculation over the cause of the deaths, saying reports attributing them to any specific disease remained subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.