Full list of 21 NSCDC officers suspended over deaths

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Aniviye and 20 other officers following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody, while approving a 10-member independent committee to investigate the tragedy — as survivors gave chilling new accounts alleging that an unknown substance was sprayed into the overcrowded cell shortly before detainees began collapsing.

According to Tribune, the 37 suspected illegal miners were arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026, dying on September 17.

In a statement signed by Tunji-Ojo on Saturday, the ministry said the suspensions were pending the outcome of the independent investigation, which would examine:

• The circumstances surrounding the victims’ arrest and detention
• The cause and circumstances of their deaths
• Possible responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct
• Appropriate action and compensation where applicable

The 21 suspended officers are:

1. Commandant — Suberu Aniviye (Niger State Commandant)
2. O/C Station Guard — SC Usman Isah Ndamaka
3. Station Guard — ASCI Hassan Mohammed
4. Station Guard — CCA Bala Mohammed
5. Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation — CSC Oluwadare Sunday
6. Arresting Officer — DCC Obafemi Elvis
7. Arresting Officer — CSC Annas Shitto Lamino
8. HOD INT/INV — DCC Philip Ajayi
9. O/C Legal — ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado
10. Night Duty Officer — ASCI Alhassan Mohammed
11. Guard Duty — IC Abdullahi Sale
12. Guard Duty — IC Mohammed Sonfada
13. Guard Duty — CAI Liman Abubakar
14. Guard Duty — CAI Bala Usman
15. Guard Duty — IC Mohammed Jiya
16. Guard Duty — DSC Isah Suleiman
17. Guard Duty — CAI Ahmed Wushishi
18. Guard Duty — IC Sale Adamu
19. Guard Duty — IC Haruna Mohammed
20. Guard Duty — ASCI Aliyu Sallah
21. Guard Duty — CAI Isah Sanusi

The suspensions follow harrowing accounts from survivors describing conditions inside the NSCDC detention cell. One survivor alleged that after 17 people were initially locked in a small room and additional detainees were added, an unidentified substance resembling perfume was sprayed into the space just before the door was secured.

“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room,” the survivor said, adding that guards refused to open the door despite desperate pleas for water and cries that “people are dying one after the other.”

Another survivor said he lived partly because his position near the entrance gave him better access to air.