The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, and 20 other officers following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody.
The officers were suspended pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The Ministry of Interior announced the development in a statement signed by Tunji-Ojo on Saturday.
The minister also approved the formation of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident and establish the identities of those who died.
The committee is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the victims’ arrest and detention, as well as determine the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
It will also investigate possible responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action and compensation where applicable.
The 37 deceased were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested by the NSCDC Niger State Command during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16.
The deaths have also prompted accounts from survivors about the conditions inside the NSCDC detention facility.
One survivor alleged that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside an overcrowded cell shortly before detainees began collapsing.
He said 17 people were initially held in a small room before additional detainees were brought in, increasing the overcrowding and heat.
“They locked us in a very small room. We were 17 in number, then they added more people, and we started complaining that the room was small,” he said.
According to the survivor, the detainees complained about the cramped conditions and heat but remained locked inside.
He alleged that a substance resembling perfume was sprayed into the room shortly before the door was secured.
“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room,” he said.
The survivor said the conditions later became critical, with some detainees collapsing while others called for water.
“We pleaded with them to give us water, but they said no one would open the door for us,” he said.
Another survivor, who requested anonymity, said he survived partly because his position near the entrance gave him better access to air.
“We were screaming for help,” he said, adding that guards were told that “people are dying one after the other; they did not believe us”.
The accounts were given on Friday as survivors described the conditions inside the NSCDC cell where the 37 suspected illegal gold miners died.
Full list of 20 suspended NSCDC officers
O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah 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 Shitto Lamino
HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi
O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado
Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed
Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale
Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada
Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar
Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman
Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya
Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman
Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi
Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu
Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed
Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah
Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi
