The federal government has suspended Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in custody.
The government has also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which occurred around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna.
The deceased suspects were reportedly arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Alao Babatunde, special adviser on media and publicity to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, disclosed the suspension in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, Aniviye, who was in charge of the command when the incident occurred, will remain suspended until the investigation is concluded.
“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.
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this.”
Tunji-Ojo appealed to members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is conducted transparently.
The minister also expressed his condolences to Umaru Bago, governor of Niger State, as well as the families and relatives of those who died.
NSCDC links deaths to suspected disease outbreak
Before his suspension, Aniviye had disclosed that “scores” of detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following what he described as a suspected disease outbreak.
He said the Niger State command carried out a “burst operation” on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to curb illegal mining activities in the state.
The operation, according to him, resulted in the arrest of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
“However, in the early hours of 17th September, 2026, scores of the detained suspects were found dead, following a suspected outbreak of disease,” he said.
Aniviye said the bodies were taken to the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.
He added that the NSCDC was working with other security agencies and appealed to members of the public and relatives of the deceased to remain calm.
NSCDC sets up panel to investigate deaths
Ahmed Abubakar, commandant-general of the NSCDC, directed the formation of a “high-powered” investigative team to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC national public relations officer, said the panel would be headed by the deputy commandant-general responsible for intelligence and investigation.
He said the team would examine the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the medical attention they received and other relevant factors.
“The team has been mandated to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths, including the condition of the suspects upon arrest, their period in custody, the conditions of detention, medical attention provided, and other relevant circumstances surrounding the incident,” Afolabi said.