The Federal Government has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suberu Aniviye, over the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the state.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension and directed a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The incident reportedly occurred in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto area of Minna, the Niger State capital, in the early hours of Thursday.
The ministry disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.
According to the statement, the deceased were among suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations carried out across parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo said the investigation would establish what happened to the suspects while they were in custody.
“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.”
The minister appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation proceeds, stressing the need for a transparent process.
He also expressed his condolences to the 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 custody at no fewer than 33, while the NSCDC has yet to release an official figure.
Following the deaths, the NSCDC had earlier established an investigative panel to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said on Thursday that the investigation team, headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, would conduct a comprehensive inquiry.
The probe is expected to examine the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their treatment while in custody, detention conditions, medical care provided to them and other factors that may have contributed to their deaths.
The NSCDC also urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions about the cause of the deaths, noting that claims linking them to a particular disease had not been medically or scientifically confirmed.
