By FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Federal Government 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 custody of the Corps.

The suspension was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who also directed a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, following the arrest of suspected illegal miners during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.

Announcing the suspension, Tunji-Ojo described the deaths as “an unfortunate incident” and stressed that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted.

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

He added that the government’s overriding responsibility was the protection of lives, saying: “We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives, and we have worked to stay true to this.”

The minister appealed to members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation proceeds, and expressed his condolences to the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of the deceased.

In a separate statement issued on Friday morning, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, said Tunji-Ojo had directed the Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to conduct a full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation into the deaths.

Afolabi said the Commandant General, in compliance with the minister’s directive, ordered the Niger State Commandant to step aside immediately and report to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.

He said the commandant would appear before a constituted panel of inquiry alongside the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation of the Niger State Command.

The Corps has also directed a new commandant to proceed to Niger State and assume immediate command of the state command.

The NSCDC assured the Minister of Interior that the investigation would be thorough, stressing that any officer or personnel found to have acted contrary to the law, established procedures or professional standards would face appropriate administrative or disciplinary action and, where applicable, criminal sanctions under extant laws and regulations.

The Corps reiterated its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of every person in its custody.

It also maintained that its statutory responsibilities—including the fight against illegal mining and the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets—would continue to be discharged in accordance with the law and established professional standards

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