A surviving illegal miner on Friday, September 18, recounted how 40 illegal miners died after inhaling substance the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials sprayed into their cell in Niger state.
The survivor made the disclosure during Tunji-Ojo’s visit to the state following the deaths of 40 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the NSCDC.
He said 17 people were initially locked inside a small room before more detainees were brought in, despite complaints that the room was too small and hot.
“They locked us in a very small room. We were 17 in number. Then they added more people. And we started complaining that the room was small. The room was very hot,” he said.
According to the survivor, the detainees were later ordered to stand up as officers prepared to lock the room.
He said a substance resembling perfume was then sprayed inside the cell.
“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room, and that’s how people started falling down,” he said.
The survivor said the heat inside the cell subsequently became unbearable and detainees pleaded for water.
“The room became extremely hot. We pleaded with them to give us water, but they said no one would open the door for us that same night,” he said.
Another survivor said he survived because he was near the entrance of the cell, where he could breathe better.
“We were screaming for help,” he said, adding that guards were told that people were dying one after another but did not believe them.
The accounts came as investigations continued into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners detained by the NSCDC in Niger state.
Niger state governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained in the NSCDC cell before 37 died.
The miners were arrested during NSCDC operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on Tuesday September 15 and Wednesday, September 16.
The NSCDC initially said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following what it described as a suspected disease outbreak.
The corps later said medical examinations would be required to establish the actual cause of death.
Bago said possible causes under investigation included suffocation arising from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances associated with illegal mining, while autopsies and forensic examinations were ongoing.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths.
Tinubu said no Nigerian should lose their life in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
He directed that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The president also said the fact that the deceased were suspected of illegal mining did not remove their rights to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.
Tunji-Ojo had earlier suspended the Niger state commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The NSCDC has also constituted an investigative team to examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, their period in custody, the conditions of their detention and the medical attention provided to them.
The investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events leading to the deaths and determine whether overcrowding, hazardous substances, official negligence or other factors contributed to the incident.
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