Illegal Mining: Interior Minister Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant Over Deaths

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

The alleged deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna have prompted the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to suspend the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.

The suspension followed the deaths of the suspects while in the custody of the NSCDC, with a full investigation ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” Tunji-Ojo declared in a statement signed by Alao Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and obtained by PersecondNews on Friday.

According to the minister, the government’s ultimate priority remained the security of lives, adding that the administration had worked to stay true to that commitment.

“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” he noted .

Tunji-Ojo urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding to allow for a transparent investigation process.

He also commiserated with Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the families and relatives of the deceased.

PerSecondNews recalls that the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the Niger State capital.

The suspected illegal miners were among those arrested during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.

The NSCDC reported that the bodies were taken to the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the cause of death.

On his part, Mohammed Umaru Bago Niger State Governor, on Thursday in press conference, confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody and described the incident as sad and tragic.

According to Bago, the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the deaths, while forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies would be conducted to establish the cause.

He also declared three days of mourning for the deceased and appealed for calm as investigations continue.