The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over their alleged conducts in the circumstances surrounding deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
The affected personnel include officers responsible for station guard, arrest, investigation, intelligence, legal and custodial duties.
Their names are: O/C Station Guard, SC Usman 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 Lamino, HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi, O/C Legal, Barr. Stephen Tsado, Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, 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, CAI Isah Sanusi.
It was gathered that the suspension was announced on Saturday by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, alongside the earlier suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye.
Tunji-Ojo said the action followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for “a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation” into the deaths.
He added that the suspensions would remain in place pending the outcome of the independent inquiry.
Also, the Federal Government has constituted a 10-member panel headed by retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Jonathan Kure, to establish the identities of the deceased and examine their arrest, detention and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The committee includes legal expert Prof. Isa Chiroma (SAN), retired AIG Hosea Karma, Prof. Olayinka Buhari, a representative of the Minna Emirate Council, a representative of the Niger State Government, and the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman.
Other members are human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, Blueprint journalist Zainab Okino and public affairs analyst George Agbakahi.
The panel has been empowered to invite additional experts, inspect relevant facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.
The government said the committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
It also directed relevant NSCDC officials to preserve and provide all records and material evidence required for the investigation.