The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken three additional personnel into custody as investigations continue into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in its custody in Niger State.
The latest development brings the number of NSCDC officers and men detained over the incident to 24.
The corps disclosed this on Sunday through its spokesperson, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, who said the three newly identified personnel had been suspended and moved to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.
According to Afolabi, the affected personnel are among those being investigated over the circumstances surrounding the deaths and will face interrogation as well as administrative disciplinary proceedings.
He explained that the latest arrests followed ongoing investigations into the incident.
“As against the initial figure of 21 personnel, three more personnel identified have also been placed on suspension, thereby bringing the total to 24 personnel.
“They are among the officers paraded at the Corps Headquarters,” Afolabi said.
The spokesperson further disclosed that personnel from the Niger State Command linked to the incident had been moved to Abuja since September 17, where they are being held pending further investigations.
He said the officers would be made available to the Presidential Independent Investigation Committee (PIIC) and other investigative panels to determine their level of involvement and possible prosecution.
Afolabi said the NSCDC had carried out the action in conjunction with the Commandant General’s Special Investigation Squad.
He added that the officers were being subjected to “rigorous interrogation and administrative disciplinary action” while arrangements were being made for their appearance before the relevant investigative bodies.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC has ordered that its flag be flown at half-mast across all its formations for three days, beginning Sunday, in honour of the 37 deceased miners.
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The latest action comes a day after the Federal Government announced the establishment of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the committee on Saturday following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.
The deaths occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, and have triggered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the miners’ detention and deaths.
Tunji-Ojo had also ordered the suspension of officers allegedly linked to the incident as part of the Federal Government’s response to the matter.