BREAKING: Niger NSCDC boss Suberu Aniviye suspended over death of 37 detained illegal miners

The Federal Government of Nigeria has suspended the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, from office over death of 37 detained illegal miners in NSCDC custody.

The suspension which takes immediate effect was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo, to give way for full investigation into the incident.

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CAPITAL POST reported on Friday that the NSCDC operatives in a coordinated operation arrested illegal miners and have them detained at its facility in Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026.

Thirty seven of the Miners detainees were said to have been discovered dead in the early hours of Thursday at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the state capital.

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The NSCDC in Minna was yet to discover the cause of death and no official statement has been issued yet

The embattled Commandant in an earlier statement suspected a disease outbreak, but said, it was subject to medical and laboratory examinations.

Reports by some credible media organisations on Friday attributed deaths to overcrowding and inadequate ventilation at the detention facility.

A survivor was quoted as saying that over 65 people were being held in the detention facility meant for fewer people.

Reacting to the incident, Tunji-Ojo said the government would conduct a comprehensive investigation while the commandant remained suspended.

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

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

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