By Paul Dada
The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the independent committee on Tuesday in Abuja, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The 37 detainees died on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while being held by the Niger State Command of the NSCDC.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, prompting the Federal Government to order an investigation to establish what happened and determine the cause of the deaths.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, will serve as secretary.
Other members are 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; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State Government.
The panel also has Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi, as members.
Speaking at the inauguration, Tunji-Ojo thanked the President for ordering the probe, saying the decision was intended to ensure justice for the deceased.
He also sympathised with the families of the victims and appealed for calm as the committee carries out its assignment.
The minister said the committee had two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to him.
The panel is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths and make findings that could guide the government’s response to the incident.
