FG Appoints Deji Adeyanju, Prof. Ciroma, and Others to Probe Custodial Deaths of 37 Miners in Niger State

The Federal Government has established a 10-member independent investigative committee to look into the tragic deaths of 37 individuals who died while in the custody of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The panel was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent, and unhindered inquiry into the incident. The victims were among those arrested during security enforcement operations targeting illegal mining activities across parts of the state.

To guarantee absolute credibility, the federal administration drew members from diverse professional backgrounds. The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), while Professor Isa Hayatu Ciroma (SAN), a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, serves as the secretary. Other notable figures on the panel include human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Professor of Histopathology Olayinka Buhari, and media representative Zainab Suleiman Okino, alongside delegates from the Minna Emirate Council, the Niger State Government, and the Miners Association of Nigeria.

In tandem with setting up the probe, the Ministry of Interior ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant alongside 20 other officers connected to the facility, warning against any form of interference, evidence tampering, or intimidation of witnesses.

The committee has been mandated to establish the exact identities of the deceased, review the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, determine the definitive cause of death, and pinpoint any negligence, misconduct, or complicity. The panel has been given a two-week window to complete its assignment and submit a comprehensive report detailing recommendations and compensatory measures where applicable.