FG Inaugurates Panel To Probe Deaths Of 37 Miners

The Nigerian Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member independent investigative committee to probe the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. Interior Minister Olubunmi TunjiOjo inaugurated the panel in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, acting on a directive from President Bola Tinubu. The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, with Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, serving as secretary. Other members include retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Hosea Hassan Karma, Professor of Histopathology Olayinka Buhari, representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and the Niger State Government, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino, and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi. The 37 detainees were found dead in custody on Thursday, September 17, 2026.