The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people who were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, over alleged illegal mining.

Minister bof Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the panel on Saturday following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2026.

The government has also suspended 20 NSCDC officers in connection with the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.

The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the DSS, while Professor Isa Hayatau Ciroma, SAN, is the Secretary.

Other members include human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (rtd), Professor Olayinka Buhari, Liman Sulaiman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper, Dr. George Agbakahi, and representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government.

The panel will establish the identities of the deceased, investigate their arrest and detention, determine the cause and circumstances of their deaths, and identify any responsibility, negligence or misconduct.