The Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Corps.
It also directed a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, describing the incident as unfortunate.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, following reports that the 37 suspects died after they 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,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The minister stressed that the government remained committed to protecting lives and ensuring accountability in the conduct of security operations.
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has constituted a Committee of Inquiry to determine the cause of the deaths and recommend appropriate action.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced the decision during a press conference on Thursday, disclosing that the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC had also constituted separate committees to investigate the incident.
According to the governor, Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba will chair the state committee, while the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, will serve as secretary.
Bago said forensic examinations and autopsies would be conducted on the victims to establish the exact cause of death and guide further government action.
Describing the incident as tragic and unfortunate, Bago condoled with the families of the deceased and assured them that the government would uncover the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
He said his administration would not tolerate any form of injustice and pledged that the investigation would be pursued to a logical conclusion.
The governor further disclosed that the state government had begun compiling a register of the affected families to facilitate engagement and support, while appealing to them to remain patient as investigations continue.
Bago also announced the closure of all illegal mining activities around the M.I. Wushishi mining site, warning that anyone found violating the directive would be prosecuted. He added that experts from Abuja would be invited to conduct a detailed analysis of the site.