The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody in Niger State.
The officers were suspended alongside the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the deaths.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the suspension in a statement on Saturday.
The 20 suspended officers are: 1. SC Usman Isah Ndamaka – Officer in Charge, Station Guard
2. ASCI Hassan Mohammed – Station Guard
3. CCA Bala Mohammed – Station Guard
4. CSC Oluwadare Sunday – Arresting Officer/Officer in Charge, Investigation
5. DCC Obafemi Elvis – Arresting Officer
6. CSC Annas Shitto Lamino – Arresting Officer
7. DCC Philip Ajayi – Head, Intelligence/Investigation
8. ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado – Officer in Charge, Legal
9. ASCI Alhassan Mohammed – Night Duty Officer
10. IC Abdullahi Sale – Guard Duty
11. IC Mohammed Sonfada – Guard Duty
12. CAI Liman Abubakar – Guard Duty
13. CAI Bala Usman – Guard Duty
14. IC Mohammed Jiya – Guard Duty
15. DSC Isah Suleiman – Guard Duty
16. CAI Ahmed Wushishi – Guard Duty
17. IC Sale Adamu – Guard Duty
18. IC Haruna Mohammed – Guard Duty
19. ASCI Aliyu Sallah – Guard Duty
20. CAI Isah Sanusi – Guard Duty
The Minister said the action followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident.
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, the Minister said the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident.
He also announced that an independent committee had been set up to establish the identities of the deceased, investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The Minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Minister also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee, while further directing that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the investigators.
‘Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,’ he warned.
The members of the Committee are:
1. Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, retired Deputy Director-General, Department of State Services, as Chairman
2. Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary
3. AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired)
4. Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
5. Representative of the Minna Emirate Council
6. Representative of the Niger State Government
7. Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria
8. Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist
9. Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper
10. Dr. George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
The 37 detainees died after they were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report.