The Federal Government has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the reported deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Corps.
The suspension was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Oluebube Tunji-Ojo, after the deaths were reported in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the Niger State capital.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.
According to the statement, the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday after suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Tunji-Ojo described the incident as unfortunate and ordered a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“It is an unfortunate incident; however, a full-scale investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the minister said.
He added that the government’s priority remained the protection of lives and security.
The minister urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is conducted.
He also expressed his condolences to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the families and relatives of those who died.
In a separate statement issued on Friday morning, the NSCDC’s National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, said the minister had directed the Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to conduct a transparent and unhindered investigation.
Afolabi said Audi immediately directed Aniviye to step aside and report to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.
The Niger State commandant was also ordered to appear before a panel of inquiry alongside the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation.
The Corps has meanwhile deployed a new commandant to Niger State to assume immediate command of the state command.
The NSCDC said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether any officers breached the law or established procedures.
It warned that any officer or personnel found culpable would face appropriate administrative or disciplinary action and, where applicable, criminal sanctions in line with existing laws and regulations.
The NSCDC also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of people in its custody.
The Corps said its enforcement activities, including efforts to tackle illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s critical national assets, would continue to be carried out within the law and according to professional standards.
The investigation is expected to determine how the suspected miners died while in the custody of the Niger State Command and whether any officers or personnel were responsible for actions that violated established procedures.
