Tinubu’s Minister Suspends NSCDC Commandant Following Miners’ Deaths
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 the state.
Tunji-Ojo also directed a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the state capital.
Politics Nigeria reports that the minister’s directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.
The suspected illegal miners were reportedly arrested during enforcement operations carried out by the NSCDC in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
Reacting to the incident, Tunji-Ojo said the suspension of the state commandant would remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the minister said.
He added, “We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this.”
Tunji-Ojo urged residents and other members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is conducted.
He also expressed condolences to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of those who died.
Reports have put the number of suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody at no fewer than 33, although the corps has not officially confirmed a specific figure.
The deaths had earlier triggered separate investigations by the NSCDC and the Niger State Police Command.
On Thursday, NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, announced that the corps had constituted an investigative team headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
Afolabi said the team was mandated to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions, medical attention provided to them and other circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The NSCDC also cautioned against speculation regarding the cause of the deaths, noting that claims linking them to any particular disease remained subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has commenced its own investigation into the incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Minna, to take charge of the probe and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, persons arrested for alleged illegal mining were found dead while in detention at the Niger State Command of the NSCDC.
The police appealed to family members, relatives and members of the public with credible information that could assist the investigation to provide such information to the SCID in Minna.
Elleman also called for calm and urged relatives and associates of the deceased to remain law-abiding and cooperate with investigators.
He assured the public that the command would thoroughly investigate the incident to determine the cause of the deaths.
The commissioner reaffirmed the police command’s commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability in the discharge of statutory responsibilities by law enforcement agencies.
