FG suspends 20 NSCDC officers over Niger miners’ deaths

The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in connection with the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in the corps’ custody in Niger State.

According to a report by Premium Times, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the suspension on Saturday, alongside the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye.

The officers are suspended pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the deaths. They include personnel assigned to station guard duties, arrests and investigation, intelligence, legal services, day/night duty and custody, among them SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, ASCI Hassan Mohammed, CCA Bala Mohammed, CSC Oluwadare Sunday and DCC Obafemi Elvis, alongside several others named in the ministry’s statement.

The Federal Government has also ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths to establish the cause and determine whether negligence or misconduct was involved.

The development follows widespread national outrage over the deaths, with authorities appealing for calm as investigations continue.