The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday in Abuja following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The committee is headed by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, will serve as secretary.
Other members include retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Hosea Hassan Karma; Prof. Olayinka Buhari, a professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; as well as representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and the Niger State Government.
The panel also has the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint newspaper journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi as members.
The 37 detainees reportedly died on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while being held at the NSCDC Niger State Command over allegations linked to illegal mining.
Speaking at the inauguration, Tunji-Ojo commended President Tinubu for ordering the probe, saying the investigation was necessary to establish the facts and ensure justice for the victims.
The minister expressed sympathy to the families of those who died and called for calm as the committee begins its investigation.
