The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
The committee was constituted by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident.
The deaths reportedly occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after the victims were arrested over alleged illegal mining activities.
The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.
It will also determine whether there was negligence, misconduct, complicity or other forms of responsibility in the incident and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Professor Olayinka Buhari, a professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, a representative of the Minna Emirate Council and a representative of the Niger State Government.
The committee also includes Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee may invite relevant experts, inspect locations, access documents and facilities connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.
The Minister directed the NSCDC leadership and other relevant officers to fully cooperate with the investigation and ensure that all records and material evidence are preserved.
The committee has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo also called for calm and expressed condolences to the families of those who died.
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