FG suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant over deaths of suspected illegal miners

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of 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 state.

The suspension followed an incident reportedly recorded in the early hours of Thursday at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the Niger State capital.

The suspected illegal miners were among those arrested during enforcement operations carried out by the NSCDC in parts of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.

The ministry, in a statement issued on Friday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde, said Tunji-Ojo had directed a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported casualties.

According to the Minister, the Niger State NSCDC commandant would remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.

“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The Minister urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation is conducted, stressing the need to allow the process to proceed transparently.

Tunji-Ojo also expressed condolences to the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of those who reportedly died in the incident.

The minister’s directive comes amid calls for clarification over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the suspected illegal miners following their arrest during the enforcement operations.