FG Suspends 20 NSCDC Officers in Niger Over Deaths of 37 Miners in Custody

The Federal Government has suspended 20 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, including the State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the Corps’ custody in Minna.

The affected personnel include officers involved in the arrest, investigation, legal processes, station security and guard duties connected to the detention of the suspects.

The development follows the arrest of suspected illegal miners during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. The detainees were subsequently found dead in the early hours of September 17 around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna. 

The suspended personnel, according to the list released, are:

1. SC Usman Isah Ndamaka – QC Station Guard

2. ASCI Hassan Mohammed – Station Guard

3. CCA Bala Mohammed – Station Guard

4. CSC Oluwadare Sunday – Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation

5. DCC Obafemi Elvis – Arresting Officer

6. CSC Annas Shitto Lamino – Arresting Officer

7. DCC Philip Ajayi – HOD Intelligence/Investigation

8. ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado – Officer-in-Charge, Legal

9. ASCI Alhassan Mohammed – Day/Night Duty Officer

10. IC Abdullahi Sale – Guard Duty

11. IC Mohammed Sonfada – Guard Duty

12. CAI Liman Abubakar – Guard Duty

13. CAI Bala Usman – Guard Duty

14. IC Mohammed Jiya – Guard Duty

15. DSC Isah Suleiman – Guard Duty

16. CAI Ahmed Wushishi – Guard Duty

17. IC Sale Adamu – Guard Duty

18. IC Haruna Mohammed – Guard Duty

19. ASCI Aliyu Sallah – Guard Duty

20. CAI Isah Sanusi – Guard Duty

The list includes personnel across different stages of the operation, from arrest and investigation to legal duties and custody-related responsibilities. Vanguard also reported the same names in its account of the suspensions. 

The NSCDC had earlier constituted an investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, detention conditions and the medical attention provided to them.