The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suberu Aniviye, over the deaths of suspected illegal miners in custody.
Tunji-Ojo also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the Niger State capital.
The minister’s directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.
The statement said the deceased suspects were among those arrested during enforcement operations carried out in parts of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the minister said the investigation would establish what led to the deaths, while the commandant responsible for the command at the time would remain suspended.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.”
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” the minister declared.
Tunji-Ojo appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding as authorities conduct the investigation, which he said should be allowed to proceed transparently.
He also expressed condolences to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of those who died.
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Reports had indicated that at least 33 suspected illegal miners died while in custody, although the NSCDC has not released an official figure.
The deaths had earlier led the NSCDC to set up an investigative team to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said the panel was headed by the Deputy Commandant-General responsible for Intelligence and Investigation.
According to Afolabi, the team was tasked with examining the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their time in custody, the detention conditions, the medical care they received and other factors connected to the deaths.
The NSCDC also warned against drawing conclusions about the cause of death, stressing that claims linking the deaths to a particular disease had yet to be established through medical and laboratory tests.