The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in connection with the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who announced the officers’ suspension on Saturday, also said a 10-member independent committee has been constituted to investigate the reported deaths of the victims on suspicion of illegal mining.
The development followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday.
The affected NSCDC officers include: O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, and Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale.
Others include Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada, Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar, Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman, Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya, Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman, Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi, Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu, Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed, Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah, and Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi.
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, the minister said the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident.
The independent committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention, and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
Tunji-Ojo directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
He also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee, while further directing that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the investigators.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
