The Federal Government has ordered a full-scale investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.

The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, September 18, 2026, following the deaths reported after enforcement operations carried out by the Niger State NSCDC Command on September 15 and 16.

As part of the immediate response, the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has been suspended from office pending the outcome of the investigation.

Tunji-Ojo said the decision was necessary to allow a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. He described the deaths as unfortunate and reiterated that the government’s priority was the protection of lives.

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

The suspected illegal miners were arrested during coordinated enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto axis of Niger State as part of efforts to curb illegal mining activities.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17. Different reports have given varying figures for the number of people who died, while the NSCDC has not issued a definitive national figure. The Niger State Government and some reports have put the number at 37, while other reports have cited different figures.

Before the minister’s latest directive, NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi had ordered the constitution of a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.

The panel is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the length of time they spent in custody, the conditions under which they were detained and the medical attention provided to them.

The remains of those who died were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.

The NSCDC has specifically warned against attributing the deaths to any particular disease before medical and laboratory examinations are completed. The Corps said it would not speculate on the cause of the fatalities until the relevant findings are available.

The issue has also raised questions about the conditions in which the suspects were held. An account from a survivor cited by the Associated Press alleged that a large number of detainees were kept in a poorly ventilated cell and that some detainees struggled to breathe. Those claims remain part of the broader circumstances that investigators will need to establish.

Following the suspension of Aniviye, the NSCDC is expected to ensure continuity of command in Niger State while the investigation proceeds. The Federal Government has also urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the investigative and medical processes to run their course.

The NSCDC has pledged to cooperate with the investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of people in its custody.

Audi had earlier directed that the health and welfare of all persons currently detained by the Corps be given priority, while measures are taken to protect personnel who may have come into contact with the affected detainees.

The investigation is expected to determine whether any operational, administrative or medical failures contributed to the deaths and whether further action should be taken against any personnel found to have breached established procedures or the law.

The government has also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said the outcome of the investigation and medical examinations would guide further action.