The Niger State Government has inaugurated a 20-member Committee of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 artisanal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command.
The committee, inaugurated on Saturday, September 19, 2026, by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, is headed by the state’s Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Ummikhaltume Abdullahi Kuta, Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Niger State, dated September 20, 2026.
Inaugurating the committee, Bago charged its members to conduct the inquiry with “diligence, professionalism, impartiality and thoroughness,” stressing the need to establish the facts surrounding the deaths.
The governor said the incident had attracted significant public attention, making it necessary for the investigation to be transparent, credible and guided by “the principles of fairness and justice.”
He directed the committee to expedite its assignment and visit all locations connected to the incident to enable members obtain first-hand information relevant to their investigation.
Bago also mandated the committee to invite key witnesses and obtain testimonies from survivors, families of the deceased, relevant government agencies, stakeholders and other persons who may have information capable of helping to establish what happened.
According to the statement, the 20-member panel comprises representatives of relevant security agencies, government institutions and key stakeholder groups, with the Deputy Governor serving as chairman.
The governor further appealed to members of the public to cooperate with the committee and provide information or materials that could assist it in carrying out its mandate.
He specifically urged witnesses, survivors, relatives of the deceased and others with relevant information to submit memoranda, documents and other useful materials to the panel.
The state government said information submitted to the committee should be factual and relevant to its task of establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The inquiry comes amid public attention surrounding the deaths of the 37 artisanal miners while in NSCDC custody, with the state government saying the investigation is intended to establish the facts and promote transparency, accountability and justice.
The government, according to the statement, expressed appreciation to members of the public for their cooperation and appealed for continued support as the committee undertakes its assignment.
