… Minister Suspends NSCDC Commandant
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the reported deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners in the state, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Survivor alleged that the victims suffocated after being crammed into a poorly ventilated cell and cried desperately for air before their deaths.
The minister described the incident as unfortunate and said the government’s ultimate priority remained the protection of lives.
Ojo, urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring that the circumstances surrounding the incident would be subjected to a transparent investigation.
A relative of one of the survivors, who pleaded anomonity, said his brother recounted that the suspects were allegedly packed into a room without adequate ventilation or a functioning fan.
“The victims wailed, cried for air and repeatedly banged on the facility, calling for help, but their pleas were allegedly ignored by officers on duty,” he said.
The enforcement operations was conducted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026 and the reported deaths occurred in the early hours of Thursday at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the state capital.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
Latest posts by Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent) (see all)
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- Over 30 Alleged Illegal Miners Die Of Suffocation - September 18, 2026
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