The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.

The suspension follows the alleged deaths of suspected illegal miners in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna, the Niger State capital.

The development was announced in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Minister's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, after the suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations conducted across parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.

Minister Tunji-Ojo described the incident as unfortunate and ordered a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.