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 (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, following the deaths of suspected illegal miners in custody.
Tunji-Ojo also ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which reportedly occurred at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the Niger State capital, in the early hours of Thursday.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the minister’s 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 Calls for Calm
The minister urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is conducted.
He said the probe was necessary to establish what led to the deaths and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the incident were properly examined.
Tunji-Ojo also commiserated with Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the families and relatives of those who died.
NSCDC Had Earlier Begun Investigation
Reports had put the number of suspected illegal miners who died in custody at no fewer than 33, although the NSCDC has not provided 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 was led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
The team was mandated to conduct a comprehensive inquiry covering the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions, medical attention provided and other circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The NSCDC also cautioned against speculation over the cause of the deaths, stressing that reports attributing them to any specific disease remained subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.
The Interior Ministry’s latest directive means the investigation will now proceed with the Niger State Commandant suspended pending the outcome of the probe.
