The Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the deaths of suspected illegal miners who were arrested and detained during enforcement operations in the state.
The suspension was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, September 18, 2026, as the government moved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detainees in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The incident has generated public concern after reports emerged that dozens of suspected illegal miners arrested by the NSCDC had died while in custody.
The arrests were carried out during enforcement operations conducted by the Niger State Command of the NSCDC on September 15 and 16, 2026, around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto axis of Minna. The operations were part of efforts by the corps to tackle illegal mining activities in the state.
Minister Orders Immediate Suspension
Announcing the suspension, the Minister of Interior said the Niger State commandant would remain suspended while a full investigation is conducted into the incident.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as unfortunate and said the Federal Government’s priority remained the protection of lives.
“It is an unfortunate incident; however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the minister said.
He also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is carried out.
The minister commiserated with Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the families and relatives of the deceased.
The suspension means that Aniviye has been removed from his position pending the outcome of the investigation. It does not, by itself, establish responsibility for the deaths or determine the cause of death.
What Happened in Niger State?
The controversy followed an NSCDC operation against suspected illegal mining activities in parts of Niger State.
According to the Niger State Command, the operation was conducted on September 15 and 16 and resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners as well as the recovery of various exhibits.
The command later confirmed that some of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of September 17.
In his initial account, the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, said the deaths followed what he described as a suspected outbreak of disease.
The bodies were subsequently deposited at the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.
However, the NSCDC national headquarters cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the deaths before the completion of medical and laboratory examinations.
The corps stated that reports attributing the deaths to any particular disease had not been medically established.
This distinction is important because the cause of death remains an unresolved issue at the time of publication.
Number of Victims Remains Subject to Investigation
Reports on the number of people who died have varied.
Some reports put the number of deceased suspected illegal miners at 37, while other reports have cited at least 33 deaths. The NSCDC, in its initial statement, referred to “scores” of detainees and did not initially provide a definitive figure.
The Niger State Government also referred to 37 suspected illegal miners as having died in NSCDC custody.
Because official investigations and medical examinations are ongoing, the circumstances surrounding the deaths, as well as the final confirmed number of victims, remain matters for the relevant authorities to establish.
NSCDC Sets Up Investigative Team
Before the Federal Government announced the suspension, the NSCDC had already commenced an investigation into the incident.
The Commandant-General of the corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, directed the establishment of a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The panel is being led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
According to the NSCDC, the investigation will examine the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, the conditions under which they were detained and the medical attention provided to them.
The team will also examine other circumstances that may have contributed to the deaths.
The corps said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital in Minna, where medical examinations would be conducted to establish the cause of death.
The NSCDC also said it was working with relevant health authorities and other security agencies following the incident.
The Commandant-General directed that the health and welfare of people still in NSCDC custody be given priority and that necessary measures be taken to protect personnel who may have come into contact with the affected detainees.
Cause of Death Yet to Be Established
One of the most significant issues arising from the incident is the question of what caused the deaths.
The Niger State command initially cited a suspected disease outbreak. However, the national headquarters of the NSCDC later stressed that no specific disease had been medically confirmed as the cause.
The corps said it would refrain from speculation until the outcome of medical and laboratory examinations was available.
This means that reports suggesting a particular medical condition, overcrowding, suffocation or other factors as the definitive cause should be treated cautiously until supported by the outcome of the investigation and post-mortem examinations.
Some accounts have raised questions about the conditions under which the suspects were detained, including allegations concerning overcrowding and ventilation. Such claims remain subject to investigation and should not be treated as established facts until independently confirmed.
The ongoing investigation is therefore expected to determine whether the deaths were caused by illness, detention conditions, medical factors or a combination of circumstances.
Governor Declares Mourning Period
The incident has also prompted a response from the Niger State Government.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced a three-day mourning period in their honour.
The state government also cancelled an All Progressives Congress political rally scheduled to take place in Minna on Saturday, September 19, following the incident.
The development has heightened tension in the state capital, with reports of protests following the deaths.
Security personnel were also deployed in parts of Minna as authorities worked to maintain peace and prevent further escalation.
Authorities have called for calm as investigations continue.
Illegal Mining Operations Under Scrutiny
The deaths occurred against the background of continued government efforts to combat illegal mining in Nigeria.
Illegal mining has remained a major concern for authorities because of its reported environmental, economic and security implications.
Security agencies, including the NSCDC, have continued to conduct operations targeting individuals and groups suspected of engaging in unauthorised mining activities.
The Niger State NSCDC operation that preceded the deaths was specifically aimed at disrupting illegal mining activities around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas.
The arrest of the suspects, however, placed responsibility on the authorities to ensure that detainees are properly treated and receive appropriate care while in custody.
The investigation ordered by the Federal Government is therefore expected to establish whether established procedures were followed during the arrests, detention and treatment of the suspects.
Federal Government Seeks Answers
Tunji-Ojo’s directive places the Niger State NSCDC command under increased scrutiny as authorities seek answers over what happened to the detainees.
The minister’s decision to suspend the commandant pending investigation indicates that the government intends to establish the facts surrounding the incident before determining whether administrative, disciplinary or other actions are warranted.
The NSCDC has also indicated that its investigation will cover the conduct of officers involved in the operation and the treatment of the detainees.
Any further action will depend on the findings of the investigation and the medical evidence regarding the deaths.
For now, authorities have not publicly established that any individual officer caused the deaths, nor have they conclusively determined the medical cause.
Investigation Expected to Provide Answers
The deaths of the suspected illegal miners have raised questions about detention conditions, medical care, operational procedures and the responsibilities of security personnel when suspects are taken into custody.
The Federal Government has ordered a full investigation, while the NSCDC has constituted its own investigative team.
Medical examinations and post-mortem procedures are also expected to provide important evidence about the cause of death.
The authorities are expected to determine the number of people who died, the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, what happened during their detention, whether they received adequate medical attention and what ultimately caused their deaths.
Until those processes are completed, claims about the exact cause of the deaths remain unconfirmed.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, will remain suspended while the investigation proceeds.
The Minister of Interior has urged the public to remain calm and law-abiding, while the NSCDC has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged that the circumstances surrounding the incident will be thoroughly investigated.
The outcome of the investigation will determine the next steps by the Federal Government and the NSCDC and could provide answers to the families seeking clarity over the deaths of their relatives while in custody.
