Following the tragic deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed Commandant Abdulhamid Salisu Kabara to head its Niger State Command.
Kabara officially assumed office on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the state command headquarters in Minna. ​He takes over from Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, who was suspended alongside 21 other officers by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following national outrage over the incident that occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026. ​
The deployment was officially announced in a press release issued on Saturday, September 19, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) Abubakar Mohammed Rabiu Muti. ​
In his maiden address at the command headquarters, Commandant Kabara expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending condolences to the bereaved families and acknowledging the sensitivity of his new assignment. ​
“At a moment like this, beyond arrests, investigations, enforcement, and the fight against illegal mining, we must remember one fundamental truth: every human life matters,” Kabara stated.
“The loss of any human life is painful, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are mourning at this difficult time.”
​Kabara, who previously served as Deputy Commandant in charge of Administration at the Niger State Command before a stint at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja, emphasised that enforcing the law must be balanced with upholding human dignity and protecting detainees. ​
The incident triggered widespread public outcry, prompting Niger State Governor Umaru Bago to declare a 24-hour curfew in Minna to curtail civil unrest and protests. Organisations including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Minna Branch, led by Chairman Ibrahim Mohammed Ndamitso, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have demanded immediate accountability. ​
President Bola Tinubu ordered a full and transparent investigation into the tragedy, stating that official negligence or failure by law enforcement to safeguard detainees would not be tolerated.
Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the immediate suspension of 21 personnel, including former Commandant Aniviye, the Officer-in-Charge of the Station Guard, arresting officers, and shift guards.
A 10-member independent investigative panel, chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, was inaugurated to investigate the cause of death. ​Initial communications from the NSCDC suggested the fatalities resulted from a sudden disease outbreak in the cells.
However, preliminary intelligence reports and survivor testimonies point toward extreme overcrowding and poor cell ventilation. One surviving detainee alleged that an unknown, noxious substance was sprayed inside a poorly ventilated cell shortly before it was locked. ​
State Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that the Niger State Police Command has launched an independent criminal investigation into the custodial deaths on the orders of the Commissioner of Police.
