The Federal Government has inaugurated a ten-member Independent Investigative Committee to probe the reported deaths of 37 people in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, custody in Niger State.
The committee was inaugurated on Monday, September 22, 2026, in Abuja by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was disclosed in a press release issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Mary Ali.
According to the statement, the Minister said the Committee must operate with complete independence, free from any influences that might derail it from establishing the true root of the matter.
He said the best gift the nation could offer the families of the deceased is justice, describing it as the debt the country owes to Nigerians who lost their lives.
Tunji-Ojo commended President Tinubu for his personal concern over the matter and for promptly directing the constitution of the Committee.
The Minister outlined the Committee’s mandate to include establishing the identities of the deceased, investigating and documenting the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, establishing through medical and forensic examination the cause and manner of death, determining whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or breach of duty occurred, and recommending disciplinary action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent recurrence.
He directed the leadership of the NSCDC and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee and stressed that all records and material evidence must be preserved and made available.
“We owe you the truth. This committee will give you the truth. No officer, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded if found culpable,” the Minister assured.
The Committee is chaired by Mr. Jonathan Kure, retired Deputy Director General, Department of State Services, with Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General, Nigeria Law School, as Secretary.
Other members are Hosea Hassan Karma, retired AIG; Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government, Niger State; Alhaji Idris Kuta, retired Federal Permanent Secretary; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria; Mr. Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist; Mrs. Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr. George Agbakahi, public affairs analyst.
Responding on behalf of the Committee, Chairman Jonathan Kure described the appointment as a call to national service and assured that the Committee would approach its assignment with open minds, uninfluenced by sentiment or media speculation.
The Committee is expected to commence its assignment immediately and submit its report within two weeks.
