The Federal Government on Saturday named 21 officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) that have been suspended over the death of 37 miners in the custody of the organisation.
The Federal Government gave the names just as it also announced the constitution of an independent committee to investigate the incident.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted the ten-member independent committee following the directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17.
The minister also directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.
The names of those suspended, in addition to the Niger State Commandant of the corps, are:
1.O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka
2.Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed
3.Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed
4.Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday
5.Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis
6.Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino
7.HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi
8.O/C Legal, ACC Stephen Tsado
9.Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed
10.Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale
11.Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada
12.Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar
13.Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman
14.Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya
15.Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman
16.Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi
17.Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu
18.Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed
19.Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah
20.Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi.
The independent committee set up by the government is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
Members of the committee are:
1.Mr Jonathan Kure, retired Deputy Director-General, Department of State Services, as Chairman
2.Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary
3.AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired)
4.Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
5.Representative of the Minna Emirate Council
6.Representative of the Niger State Government
7.Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria
8.Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist
9.Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper
10. Dr. George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
