Miners’ Deaths: FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Boss, Orders Full Investigation

The Federal Government has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the alleged deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Corps.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension after the incident in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, Niger State.

The minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, disclosed the decision in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

The deaths reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday, after the suspects were arrested during enforcement operations carried out in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.

Tunji-Ojo said the incident was unfortunate and stressed that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted.

“It is an unfortunate incident; however, a full-scale investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” he said.

The minister added, “We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives, and we have worked to stay true to this.”

He appealed to the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation proceeds, and commiserated with Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago as well as the families and relatives of those who died.

Meanwhile, NSCDC spokesman ACC Babawale Afolabi said on Friday that Tunji-Ojo had directed Commandant General Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi to conduct a full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation into the deaths.

In response, Audi ordered the Niger State Commandant to step aside immediately and report to the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja.

Afolabi said Aniviye would appear before a panel of inquiry alongside the state command’s Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation.

The NSCDC also announced that a new commandant had been directed to take over the Niger State Command with immediate effect.

The Corps said the investigation would leave no stone unturned and warned that any personnel found to have violated the law, established procedures or professional standards would face appropriate sanctions.

Such sanctions, it said, could include administrative or disciplinary action and, where applicable, criminal proceedings in line with existing laws and regulations.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of everyone in its custody, while maintaining that its fight against illegal mining and efforts to protect Nigeria’s critical national assets would continue within the law and established professional standards.

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