FG Inaugurates Committee to Probe Niger’s Mining Minors’ Deaths

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has inaugurated a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 people detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State over suspected illegal mining.

The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday in Abuja, following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Jonathan Kure, while a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, will serve as secretary.

Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State Government.

The committee also includes Mr Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.

The 37 minors, who were in the corps’ detention, died on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Niger State. This has since sparked a now quelled violence and the imposition of curfew.

The cause of the deaths has not been established, with authorities ordering an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. This has since sparked a now-quelled violence and the imposition of a curfew.

The minister, in his remarks, thanked Tinubu for constituting the committee and directing an investigation into the incident, saying the move was aimed at ensuring justice for the victims.

Mr Tunji-Ojo also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation was ongoing.

The minister added that the committee has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report to the minister.

“As you can see from the membership of this committee, there is absolutely no excuse for justice not to be done. Let your performance and your sustained integrity over the years justify what will be done,” he said.

The Governor of the state, Mr Umaru Bago, has since called for an executive order regarding mining activities in the state, warning that the practice is attracting minors away from pursuing education.