The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the constitution of the committee on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

The 37 detainees reportedly died on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while being held by the Niger State Command of the NSCDC.The circumstances and actual cause of the deaths have yet to be established.

According to a statement issued by the Interior Minister, the committee will determine the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and subsequent deaths.

It will also establish whether there was any responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct in connection with the incident.

The panel is expected to recommend appropriate actions, including compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.

Tunji-Ojo warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.

The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.

Other members of the panel are retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State Government.

Also appointed to the committee are Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper journalist, Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.

The committee has been empowered to co-opt relevant experts, access facilities and official documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.

The panel has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.

Tunji-Ojo also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm as the investigation into the Niger State detainees’ deaths continues.