WorldStage— The Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have announced the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and members of his team following the tragic deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in detention.
The suspension was formally disclosed on Friday by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as public outrage mounted over the mysterious fatalities.
According to official reports, the deceased individuals were among a large group of suspects apprehended during a series of aggressive burst operations conducted by the NSCDC state command across the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto axes of Minna, the Niger State capital, on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Initial statements from the suspended commandant claimed that scores of the detained persons were found dead in the early hours of September 17.
Aniviye attributed the sudden loss of life to a suspected disease outbreak inside the detention facility.
However, the claim faced immediate pushback and skepticism from grieving families, local residents, and human rights advocates.
Relatives of some victims alleged severe overcrowding in poorly ventilated cells, claims that detainees were denied access to food and water, and extortion demands of up to 100,000 naira ($75) per person for administrative release.
The escalating anger sparked localized street protests in Minna on Thursday night, prompting a heavy deployment of security forces to restore public order.In response to the crisis, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced the creation of a high-powered state investigative committee chaired by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba, with Commissioner for Homeland Security Maurice Magaji serving as secretary.
Governor Bago confirmed that comprehensive autopsies and forensic medical examinations would be carried out on the bodies—currently deposited at the General Hospital in Minna—to scientifically determine whether the deaths resulted from a communicable disease, severe heat exhaustion, or systemic negligence.
However, the national headquarters of the NSCDC, led by Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar, has distanced the paramilitary institution from any premature conclusions regarding a disease outbreak.
The national command has dispatched an independent investigative panel headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation to audit detention standards, length of custody, and the medical responsiveness of the Niger State command.
Separate inquiries have also been initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.
Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo has appealed for public calm, assuring citizens that the government values human dignity and that a transparent, uncompromised inquiry will ensure accountability for the 37 lives lost.
