A survivor of the mass death of suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has recounted the horrifying conditions inside the overcrowded cell.
The survivor, Usman Muhammad, told the BBC that the heat inside the cell became unbearable, with detainees struggling to breathe and repeatedly pleading with officers to open the door.
According to Muhammad, more than 50 people were packed into a cell measuring about 6 metres by 3 metres, with only a small high-level window providing ventilation.
“When we touched each other’s bodies, it felt like fire burning,” he recounted.
He said one detainee eventually fainted, prompting those inside to call for water and help. According to his account, some detainees became so desperate for fluids that they reportedly drank their own urine and collected sweat from their bodies.
Another survivor, Adamu Isah, said detainees repeatedly told officers that people were dying inside and even attempted to break down the door after their pleas were allegedly ignored.
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The incident reportedly occurred after more than 60 suspected illegal miners were arrested during an NSCDC operation around mining sites in Minna.
It was reported that 37 detainees died, although the NSCDC has not publicly confirmed the exact number of people detained at the facility.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, including diphtheria, but the circumstances surrounding the fatalities are now under investigation.
Several NSCDC personnel have reportedly been suspended, while the Federal Government has constituted a 10-member committee to investigate the deaths and determine responsibility.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said officers found culpable would not be shielded. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago also called for justice for the victims.
The investigation is expected to establish the exact cause of the deaths and determine whether overcrowding, poor ventilation and the alleged delayed response to pleas for help contributed to the tragedy.
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