- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.
Tunji-Ojo gave the directive following the reported death of 37 suspected illegal miners arrested in M.I. Wushishi/ Lukoto axis of Minna the state capital.
The incident which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday followed the detention of the suspects in NSCDC custody after their arrest during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
All the suspects mysteriously died in the NSCDC, a development which had since sparked mixed reactions from the public.
Reacting in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, Tunji-Ojo declared the incident an unfortunate incident.
He disclosed that a full investigation will be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspects.
The minister thereafter announced the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC commandant.
“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,” Tunji-Ojo said as quoted in the statement.
He urged members of the public to maintain calm and remain law-abiding to allow for a transparent investigation process.
The minister further commiserated with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State and the families and relatives of the deceased.