New NSCDC commandant arrives Niger amid deaths in custody probe

A new commandant, Mr Kabara, has taken over the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. His appointment comes amid an investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody.

The Nigeria Police Force has secured the scene of the incident to preserve evidence for the investigation. According to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, the scene was inspected alongside the Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and other security officials. Disu stated that the police and other security agencies had restored calm to the area after demonstrations and riots sparked by the deaths.

The Niger State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths. The institute also urged authorities to compensate and support the bereaved families and sanction any wrongdoing or negligence. The state government has constituted a committee to investigate the incident, alongside federal authorities, including the NSCDC and police.

Brief written by urgent.news from Premium Times, Punch, Punch Nigeria, Daily Post Nigeria — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.