NSCDC Arrests Suspended Niger Commandant, 23 Others Over Deaths Of 37 Miners
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken 24 personnel, including the suspended Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, into custody over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were being held by the corps.
The NSCDC’s National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, had ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
Afolabi said the investigation would be conducted in line with the principles of due process, transparency and accountability, adding that any personnel found culpable would face internal disciplinary measures and possible prosecution under the law.
According to him, the number of personnel under investigation increased from the initial 21 after three additional officers were identified and suspended in connection with the incident.
“In a swift and decisive joint operation conducted in conjunction with the Commandant-General’s Special Investigation Squad (SIS), all officers and men of the Niger State Command linked to the gross misconduct have since September 17, 2026, been taken into protective custody at the national headquarters, Abuja,” Afolabi said.
He added that the affected personnel were undergoing interrogation and administrative disciplinary procedures to make them available to the Presidential Independent Investigation Committee and other panels for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The NSCDC spokesperson also disclosed that Audi had ordered the corps’ flag to be flown at half-mast across all its formations for three days, beginning September 20, in honour of the 37 deceased miners.
He said the gesture was intended to reflect the corps’ mourning for the victims and its resolve to address misconduct within its ranks.
The development followed allegations by one of the surviving detainees that 65 suspected illegal miners had been crammed into a single cell before operatives allegedly sprayed a substance into the facility and locked the door.
The survivor made the allegation on Friday when Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, met with survivors of the incident.
The Federal Government has also deployed a high-powered investigative team to Niger State to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The investigation is expected to determine what happened to the detainees and establish the responsibilities, if any, of personnel involved in their arrest, detention and handling.
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# NSCDC Arrests Suspended Niger Commandant, 23 Others Over Deaths Of 37 Miners
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken 24 personnel, including the suspended Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, into custody over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were being held by the corps.
The NSCDC’s National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, had ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
Afolabi said the investigation would be conducted in line with the principles of due process, transparency and accountability, adding that any personnel found culpable would face internal disciplinary measures and possible prosecution under the law.
According to him, the number of personnel under investigation increased from the initial 21 after three additional officers were identified and suspended in connection with the incident.
“In a swift and decisive joint operation conducted in conjunction with the Commandant-General’s Special Investigation Squad (SIS), all officers and men of the Niger State Command linked to the gross misconduct have since September 17, 2026, been taken into protective custody at the national headquarters, Abuja,” Afolabi said.
He added that the affected personnel were undergoing interrogation and administrative disciplinary procedures to make them available to the Presidential Independent Investigation Committee and other panels for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The NSCDC spokesperson also disclosed that Audi had ordered the corps’ flag to be flown at half-mast across all its formations for three days, beginning September 20, in honour of the 37 deceased miners.
He said the gesture was intended to reflect the corps’ mourning for the victims and its resolve to address misconduct within its ranks.
The development followed allegations by one of the surviving detainees that 65 suspected illegal miners had been crammed into a single cell before operatives allegedly sprayed a substance into the facility and locked the door.
The survivor made the allegation on Friday when Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, met with survivors of the incident.
The Federal Government has also deployed a high-powered investigative team to Niger State to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The investigation is expected to determine what happened to the detainees and establish the responsibilities, if any, of personnel involved in their arrest, detention and handling.