By Sandra Kenneth
The Federal Government has officially inaugurated a 10-member independent investigative committee to determine the cause of death of 37 individuals who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the panel on Tuesday in Abuja following a direct directive from President Bola Tinubu ordering a comprehensive probe into the tragedy.
The deceased suspects had been arrested and detained by the NSCDC Niger State Command over alleged involvement in illegal mining activities before their sudden deaths on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), with former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), serving as secretary.
Speaking during the inauguration, Tunji-Ojo conveyed the Federal Government’s condolences to the bereaved families and appealed to the public for calm as the panel begins its work.
The minister stressed that the probe aims to establish the exact medical and operational circumstances surrounding the fatalities, promising that the findings will be made public to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.
