The Federal Government has set up a 10-member panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Saturday after President Bola Tinubu ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The detainees died on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while being held by the NSCDC command in Niger State.
Although the deaths have been confirmed, authorities have not disclosed the cause, with the newly constituted panel expected to establish what happened.
The committee will identify the deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and eventual deaths. It will also look into any acts of negligence, misconduct or other forms of responsibility connected to the incident.
The panel is expected to recommend appropriate measures, including compensation where necessary, and propose steps to prevent a similar occurrence.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” the minister said.
Retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Jonathan Kure, will chair the committee, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Members of the panel include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a Histopathology professor and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government.
The panel also has the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman; human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper’s Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee can invite additional experts, inspect relevant locations, obtain documents and receive memoranda from members of the public as part of its assignment.
It has been given two weeks to conclude the investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
Tunji-Ojo expressed sympathy to the families of those who died and called for calm while the investigation is ongoing.