Following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has established a ten-member independent committee to thoroughly investigate the deaths of 37 individuals held by the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on suspicion of illegal mining.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Suspension of Officers: The Minister ordered the immediate suspension of all officers involved in the incident—including the Niger State Commandant and 20 other specific personnel ranging from station guards and arresting officers to legal and duty officers—pending the outcome of the probe.

• Preserving Evidence: Minister Tunji-Ojo warned that any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses, or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offense. All relevant records and material evidence have been ordered preserved.

Mandate of the Independent Committee

The committee is tasked with:

• Establishing the identities of the deceased and investigating the circumstances surrounding their arrests, detention, and deaths.

• Determining responsibility, complicity, negligence, or misconduct.

• Recommending appropriate actions, compensation where applicable, and safety measures to prevent future occurrences.

• Delivering its findings and report to the Minister within two weeks.

Committee Members

1. Mr. Jonathan Kure, mni (Retired Deputy Director-General, DSS) – Chairman

2. Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN (Former Director-General, Nigerian Law School) – Secretary

3. AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (Retired)

4. Prof. Olayinka Buhari (Professor of Histopathology / Former CMD, UITH)

5. Representative, Minna Emirate Council

6. Representative, 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 (Blueprint Newspaper)

10. Dr. George Agbakahi (Public Affairs Analyst)

The panel is empowered to co-opt experts, visit locations, access necessary documents, and request public memoranda as it carries out its two-week assignment. The Minister has also extended his condolences to the bereaved families while appealing for public calm.

Nigerian track star Tobi Amusan earned $35,000 after a stellar second-place finish in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Athlos meeting held at StoneX Stadium in Barnet, London, on Friday, September 18.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• The Photo Finish: Amusan clocked 12.51 seconds (with a 1.2m/s tailwind), narrowly missing the top spot by just 0.01 seconds behind America’s Alaysha Johnson, who claimed victory in 12.50 seconds to close out her 40th race of the season.

• Top Contenders: The elite field featured Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton taking third in 12.63 seconds, followed closely by Jamaica’s Danielle Williams in fourth (12.63 seconds), Megan Simmonds in fifth (12.66 seconds), and America’s Rayniah Jones in sixth (12.83 seconds).

• High-Profile Absence: Johnson captured the Athlos crown following the withdrawal of Olympic champion and world record holder Masai Russell earlier in the week.

Season Wrap-Up & Rivalry:

The event marked the conclusion of Amusan’s season, which saw her consistently compete at the highest tier despite relinquishing her long-standing world record to Russell earlier in the year (after Russell clocked 12.09 seconds in Zurich to break Amusan’s four-year-old 12.12-second record). Amusan also finished closely behind Russell at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, pocketing $75,000 with a 12.34-second finish.

About Athlos:

Created by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, Athlos is an elite, women-only track and field series boasting a $2.1 million prize purse, where winners receive $65,000 and a custom Tiffany &

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has urged members of the public to remain calm and await the outcome of ongoing investigations into the tragic deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Suspicious Findings: Governor Bago noted that preliminary observations raised major questions, revealing that some of the deceased had blood or froth around their mouths, along with mysterious burns on their bodies. Investigators are currently examining possibilities such as poisoning, suffocation, facility overcrowding, or exposure to hazardous materials.

• Scientific Investigations: Laboratory samples, medical examinations, forensic analyses, and autopsies have been launched to determine the exact scientific cause of death. Multiple independent probes have been initiated by the state government, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

• Curfew and Protests: Following the incident, angry youths took to the streets in Minna, blocking major roads and prompting security forces to disperse crowds. In response to the unrest, Governor Bago declared an immediate 24-hour curfew in parts of the state capital.

• Crackdown on Illegal Mining: Expressing deep concern that youths are abandoning their education and vocational training for hazardous mining, the governor announced a total suspension of mining activities across Niger State and ordered the immediate closure of the unsafe M.I. Wushishi mining site.