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Ex-DSS Deputy Director, Deji Adeyanju, Others Make List
- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the suspension of all officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, allegedly involved in the mysterious death of 37 miners at the agency’s custody in Niger state.
Tunji-Ojo gave the directive following his visit to the state on Friday.
According to a statement personally signed by the minister on Saturday, Tunji-Ojo ordered that a total of 20 officers be suspended pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.
The officers comprised of three station guards, four arresting officers, 11 guard duty officers, the Head of Intelligence Department, one day/night duty officer, and a legal officer.
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 suspended officers as listed in the statement include SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, ASCI Hassan Mohammed, CCA Bala Mohammed, CSC Oluwadare Sunday, DCC Obafemi Elvis, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino, DCC Philip Ajayi, Barr. Stephen Tsado, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, and IC Abdullahi Sale.
Others include IC Mohammed Sonfada, CAI Liman Abubakar, CAI Bala Usman, IC Mohammed Jiya,, DSC Isah Suleiman, CAI Ahmed Wushishi, IC Sale Adamu, IC Haruna Mohammed, ASCI Aliyu Sallah, and CAI Isah Sanus.
Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo also announced the establishment of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths.
The action, according to the statement, followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu, for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday.
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.
The Minister 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.
He warned that “any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,”.
The committee is chaired by former Deputy Director-General of Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, with former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), as Secretary.
Other members of the panel include AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (rtd), Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; representative of the Minna Emirate Council, representative of the Niger State Government, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria; Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist. Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr. George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.