BREAKING: FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant Over Deaths Of 33 Suspected Illegal Miners

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 Minna, Niger State.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the directive after reports emerged of the alleged deaths of the miners at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, following enforcement operations conducted across parts of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.

The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Minister’s Senior Assistant on Media and Publicity .Babatunde Alao and personally shared on the Minister’s Facebook Page.

The reported deaths, which allegedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday, have prompted the federal government to move swiftly, with the Minister directing that the circumstances surrounding the incident be subjected to a full and transparent investigation.

“It is an unfortunate incident. However, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the Minister said.

Tunji-Ojo stressed that the Federal Government places the protection of human life at the centre of its security responsibilities, insisting that security operations must be conducted within the bounds of the law.

“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” he declared.

The Minister called for calm and urged members of the public to remain law-abiding as the investigation gets underway, assuring that the process would be conducted transparently.

He also commiserated with the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of those reported dead.

The Federal Government’s directive underscores its determination to establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure that appropriate action is taken based on the outcome of the investigation.

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 Minna, Niger State.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the directive after reports emerged of the alleged deaths of the miners at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, following enforcement operations conducted across parts of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.

The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Minister’s Senior Assistant on Media and Publicity .Babatunde Alao and personally shared on the minister’s Facebook Page.

The reported deaths, which allegedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday, have prompted the federal government to move swiftly, with the Minister directing that the circumstances surrounding the incident be subjected to a full and transparent investigation.

“It is an unfortunate incident. However, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the Minister said.

Tunji-Ojo stressed that the federal government places the protection of human life at the centre of its security responsibilities, insisting that security operations must be conducted within the bounds of the law.

“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” he declared.

The minister called for calm and urged members of the public to remain law-abiding as the investigation gets underway, assuring that the process would be conducted transparently.

He also commiserated with the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, as well as the families and relatives of those reported dead.

The federal government’s directive underscores its determination to establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure that appropriate action is taken based on the outcome of the investigation.