BREAKING: FG Panel Recommends Sack of NSCDC Officers Over Deaths of 37 Miners

The Federal Government’s investigative panel has recommended the dismissal of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other officers directly involved in the detention of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the corps’ custody in Minna, Niger State.

The committee also recommended the prosecution of officers implicated in the incident and ₦1.4 billion in compensation for the families of 33 deceased victims and 44 survivors, according to details released on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, when the panel submitted its report in Abuja.

Jonathan Kure, chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee and a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), presented the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Kure said the deaths were avoidable and that the victims, including 14 minors, had been held in inhumane conditions. The committee recommended disciplinary action against officers found to have been directly involved in the detention of the miners and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The recommendations followed a Federal Government investigation ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the deaths triggered public concern and calls for accountability.

The 37 victims died on September 17, 2026, after being arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State. They were subsequently held at an NSCDC facility in Minna.

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According to reports on the panel’s findings, the detainees died from asphyxiation, a condition in which the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen. The committee reportedly described the deaths as preventable and raised concerns about the conditions in which the victims were detained.

The committee’s recommendations include the summary dismissal of the Niger State NSCDC commandant and other officers directly involved in the detention of the miners, as well as prosecution where the evidence supports criminal responsibility. The recommendations do not, by themselves, constitute criminal convictions.

The panel also called for institutional reforms within the NSCDC to strengthen leadership, improve professional standards and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo said the Federal Government would implement the committee’s recommendations to pursue justice for the affected families and survivors.

The minister also directed the immediate suspension of officers accused of cleaning the detention facility in a manner allegedly intended to destroy evidence. The allegation highlights the importance of preserving material evidence for any further investigation or legal proceedings.

The committee was established after the Federal Government suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation.

The 10-member panel, inaugurated on September 22, was chaired by Kure and tasked with identifying the deceased, investigating the circumstances of their arrest and detention, determining the cause of death and establishing whether negligence, misconduct or breaches of duty contributed to the incident.

During its investigation, the committee inspected the detention facility and other locations connected with the incident. It also gathered statements from NSCDC personnel, survivors, bereaved families and other witnesses, while examining documentary, medical and forensic evidence.

Earlier in October, Kure said preliminary findings had pointed to institutional lapses and overzealousness among some personnel. At that stage, the committee said it was still reviewing evidence and awaiting forensic and pathology reports before reaching its final conclusions.

The submission of the report marks a significant stage in the investigation, but the implementation of the recommendations and any subsequent disciplinary or criminal proceedings will determine the next steps.

The case has renewed calls for stronger safeguards in detention facilities and greater accountability by security agencies responsible for people in custody. The affected families are seeking justice and answers over the deaths of their relatives.