A survivor of the detention incident in which 37 suspected illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has given a disturbing account of what happened inside the detention facility, alleging that an unidentified substance was sprayed into an overcrowded cell shortly before some detainees began collapsing.
The survivor narrated his experience on Friday while speaking to Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during their visit to survivors receiving treatment at a hospital in the state.
The account has added a new dimension to investigations into the deaths, which occurred after dozens of suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations in Niger State.
According to reports, the detainees were arrested around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state between September 15 and 16. Niger State authorities later confirmed that 37 detainees had died while in NSCDC custody. Governor Bago said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained before the deaths occurred.
Speaking in Hausa, the survivor said the detainees were initially 17 in number when they were taken into a small room. He alleged that more people were subsequently brought into the cell despite repeated complaints that there was insufficient space.
He said the number of people inside the room eventually rose to almost 48, making the environment increasingly hot and uncomfortable.
“The room was very small. When we got there, we were up to 17 in the room. Then more people came in,” he said.
“More people kept coming in, almost 48, and we told them that the room was too small.”
According to the survivor, the detainees complained about the conditions but were instructed to move quickly and stand up as the room was being prepared for lockdown.
He alleged that after the door was locked, a substance resembling perfume or fragrance was sprayed inside the room.
“They locked the door and sprayed some kind of perfume or fragrance,” he said.
The survivor said the substance had a strong and irritating smell and that some of the detainees subsequently began collapsing.
“That perfume had a very strong smell, and after a while, some people suddenly started falling down,” he recounted.
He further described the conditions inside the cell as extremely hot, saying the detainees repeatedly pleaded for water and complained that they could hardly breathe.
“It was very hot. We were saying that we needed water, that we were human beings,” he said.
The survivor, however, said he could not identify what had been sprayed into the room or determine whether the substance was responsible for the deaths.
“I don’t know what they sprayed, but I know it looked like a perfume. And it smelled hurt,” he said, adding that the substance irritated their eyes.
“When they sprayed it, it peppered our eyes,” he added.
The survivor also said he could not clearly remember what happened after the situation deteriorated, saying he only regained awareness the following morning.
“At that night, I don’t know what happened again until this morning,” he said.
His account is consistent with separate reports from survivors alleging that the detention conditions were severely overcrowded and poorly ventilated. One survivor, Dauda Shehu, reportedly told the Associated Press that detainees struggled to breathe and scrambled for fresh air.
However, authorities have yet to establish scientifically what caused the 37 deaths.
The NSCDC initially suggested that a suspected disease outbreak might have been responsible, but the Corps subsequently stated that the actual cause had not been established and that medical examinations were necessary. The bodies were taken to the General Hospital in Minna for further examination.
Governor Bago has said several possibilities are being examined, including suffocation arising from overcrowding and possible exposure to hazardous substances. Medical, forensic and biological examinations are expected to provide evidence needed to determine what happened.
The Federal Government has also commenced a wider investigation. The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, while the NSCDC has ordered a high-powered panel to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the detainees, the conditions of detention and the medical attention provided.
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has separately deployed a team of experts to Niger State to investigate the incident and produce a detailed report on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
For now, the survivor’s allegation that a substance was sprayed into the cell remains an account requiring independent verification. The medical and forensic investigations will be crucial in determining whether overcrowding, poor ventilation, exposure to a substance, illness, or a combination of factors caused the deaths.
The incident has continued to generate public concern, with authorities under pressure to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine responsibility where wrongdoing is established.
