The Federal Government has suspended 20 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were in the Corps’ custody in Niger State.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the suspension on Saturday, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday.

Tunji-Ojo said the suspension would remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation. The affected officers include personnel involved in the arrest, investigation, security and detention of the suspected miners.

The Minister also constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and establish the identities of the deceased, the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, and the actual cause of death.

The committee is also expected to determine whether there was any responsibility, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where necessary.

The committee is chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Jonathan Kure, mni, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as Secretary.

Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Prof. Olayinka Buhari, representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government, the National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, Blueprint Newspaper’s Zainab Suleiman Okino, and public affairs analyst Dr. George Agbakahi.

The committee has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister.

Tunji-Ojo directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to fully cooperate with the investigation and ensure that all records and evidence relating to the incident are preserved.

He warned that anyone who attempts to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would face serious consequences.

The Minister described the deaths as deeply disturbing, condoled with the families of the deceased and appealed for calm while the investigation continues.

OKRIKA, Rivers — What began as an overnight attempt by hundreds of youths to siphon petroleum products from an illegal pipeline connection has ended in tragedy, with at least 43 people feared dead in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday at Okari Jetty in Okrika Mainland, leaving families searching for loved ones and the community grappling with the scale of the disaster.

Community sources said more than 200 youths from neighbouring communities arrived at the jetty in wooden boats and attempted to collect petroleum products from an illegally connected tapping point on a pipeline linked to the facility.

The operation reportedly turned deadly after the youths were exposed to concentrated fumes while loading the product into waiting boats.

Several people reportedly lost consciousness. Some fell into the river and drowned, while others managed to escape and are receiving treatment for respiratory complications.

Of the 43 people reportedly dead, 37 have been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others remain unidentified. Several people are also still unaccounted for.

The incident has left relatives and community members facing the painful task of searching for missing family members and identifying those who died.

Blessing Agabe, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the actual number of casualties.

Fyneface Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), said the victims were allegedly involved in an illegal operation at a tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals area through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to export vessels.

According to him, the victims were loading the product into waiting boats while a vessel was receiving supplies from the pipeline.

Fyneface described the incident as a major warning about the dangers associated with tampering with oil and gas infrastructure and illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.

YEAC-Nigeria has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a joint investigation into the incident and determine what led to the deaths.

The organisation also urged operators of oil and gas facilities to strengthen security around critical infrastructure to prevent vandalism and unauthorised access.

Beyond the immediate investigation, Fyneface called for stronger measures to reduce the economic pressures that drive young people into dangerous activities, including the creation of alternative livelihood opportunities, industrial development programmes and other sustainable economic initiatives across the Niger Delta.

For families in Okrika, however, the immediate concern is more personal: finding missing relatives, identifying the dead and coming to terms with a tragedy that has claimed dozens of lives in a single night.

Global ride-hailing giant Uber has ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, bringing its 12-year presence in the country to a close.

Uber announced the decision on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, saying it would wind down its operations in Nigeria following a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa.

The company, which launched its service in Lagos in 2014, said the decision takes effect immediately.

“After a thorough review, we have taken the difficult decision to wind down operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026,” Uber said in a statement.

Uber stressed that the decision is limited to Nigeria and Uganda and does not represent a withdrawal from the wider African market.

The company said it remains committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, which it described as a region with strong growth prospects and long-term opportunities.

Why Uber is leaving Nigeria

Uber attributed its Nigerian exit to its “evolving business priorities and investment focus across the continent.”

The company said it was concentrating investments on markets where it could create the greatest value for drivers by providing earning opportunities at scale while allowing passengers to move around seamlessly.

Uber did not cite regulatory difficulties in Nigeria as the reason for its withdrawal.

The company also specifically denied that its decision was linked to a recent directive by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.

“No,” Uber said when asked whether the FAAN directive was responsible for its decision.

FAAN had recently clarified that it had not imposed a blanket ban on e-hailing services at Nigerian airports, explaining that discussions with operators were focused on establishing an appropriate framework for their operations within airport premises.

Drivers, riders affected

Uber said its immediate priority is supporting drivers, riders and employees affected by the shutdown.

The company said it is communicating directly with affected stakeholders about the implications of the decision and arrangements for the transition.

Uber has operated in Nigeria for more than a decade, expanding beyond Lagos to several cities, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Kano and other major urban centres.

Its departure is expected to reshape Nigeria’s increasingly competitive ride-hailing market, where operators compete for passengers and drivers amid rising operating costs and evolving regulatory requirements.

End of an era

Uber’s exit marks the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s digital transport industry.

The company helped popularise app-based ride-hailing in the country after launching in Lagos in 2014, offering passengers an alternative to conventional taxi services and creating new earning opportunities for thousands of drivers.

Its withdrawal also comes at a time when ride-hailing companies across Africa are reassessing their operations and investment strategies.

Uber previously withdrew from Côte d’Ivoire in 2025 and ended operations in Tanzania in January 2026, reflecting the challenges global mobility platforms can face in adapting their business models to individual African markets.

For Nigerian passengers and drivers, however, the immediate question is what Uber’s departure will mean for competition, fares, driver earnings and service availability.

While Uber is leaving Nigeria, the company maintains that its broader commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa remains intact.

The exit therefore represents a strategic withdrawal from the Nigerian market rather than a retreat from Africa, according to the company.