File: Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and 20 other officers over the reported deaths of 37 people in the Corps’ custody.
The officers were suspended pending the conclusion of an independent investigation into the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The Ministry of Interior announced the suspension in a statement signed by the minister on Saturday.
The statement said the suspension was in addition to the setting up of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident.
According to the statement, the committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrest, detention, as well as the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The minister also directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and recommend appropriate action and compensation where applicable.
The 20 other NSCDC officers suspended are:
1 .O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka
2. Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed
3. Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed
4. Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday
5. Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis
6. Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino
7. HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi
8. O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado
9. Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed
10. Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale
11. Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada
12. Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar
13. Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman
14. Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya
15. Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman
16. Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi
17. Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu
18. Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed
19. Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah
20. Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi
