As the federal government intensifies efforts towards unravelling the causes of deaths of 37 persons detained in a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on suspicion of illegal mining in the state, 20 officers of the Agency have been suspended.
The suspended officers are the Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; and Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino.Nigerian political news
Others include HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; and 11 officers assigned to guard duties. 
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who disclosed this said all officers involved in the incident would remain suspended pending the conclusion of the independent investigation.
He described the deaths as deeply disturbing, pointing out that the government owed the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events that led to the incident.
Meanwhile, the federal government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The committee chaired by is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention and the causes and circumstances of their deaths.
According to the Minister, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Jonathan Kure, wil serve as Chairman while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, is secretary of the committee.
