The 11-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to investigate the deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will commence its inaugural sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The inaugural sitting will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Teachers Professional Institute Hall, along F.L. Layout by Tayi Junction, Minna, Niger State.
This was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Minna by the Secretary of the Commission, Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi, Esq.
The Commission, headed by Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of Minna High Court, has also invited members of the public to attend its proceedings and submit memoranda relevant to its mandate.
The inquiry followed the constitution of the Commission by Governor Bago to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 alleged illegal miners while in NSCDC custody.
While inaugurating the Commission, Governor Bago charged members to discharge their responsibilities with sincerity, impartiality and the fear of God.
He described the assignment as enormous and challenging, urging the members to diligently establish the facts surrounding the incident and make appropriate recommendations.
The governor said the Commission had four weeks within which to conduct its investigation and submit its findings.
According to him, the Commission is not vested with powers to investigate the administrative conduct of NSCDC officers or determine disciplinary sanctions against them, but is mandated to examine acts and circumstances falling within the purview and powers of the Niger State Government.
Its terms of reference include investigating the circumstances of the arrest of the alleged illegal miners, the legality of their detention and the treatment they received while in custody, as well as the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The Commission is also expected to examine the responsibility and accountability of relevant officers, medical and forensic evidence relating to the deaths, and make findings and recommendations based on its investigation.
