A survivor of the incident in which 37 suspected illegal gold miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has recounted how detainees struggled to breathe in an overcrowded cell.
The survivor said 17 people were initially locked inside a small room before more detainees were brought in.
According to him, the detainees complained about the cramped conditions and intense heat but were kept inside.
“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,” he said.
He alleged that the situation worsened as the door was about to be locked and an unidentified substance, which he said looked like perfume, was sprayed inside the room.
“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room,” he said.
The survivor said people began collapsing as the room became increasingly hot.
He added that the detainees pleaded for water but were allegedly told that no one would open the door.
“We pleaded with them to give us water, but they said no one would open the door for us,” he said.
He indicated that the ordeal continued into the night, although his account did not immediately provide further details about what happened afterwards.
Another survivor, who requested anonymity, said he survived because he was positioned close to the entrance of the cell, where he was able to breathe more easily.
“We were screaming for help,” he said, adding that guards were told that “people are dying one after the other,” but allegedly did not believe them.
Protest Erupts in Minna
The deaths triggered unrest in Minna, the capital of Niger State, with reports that police opened fire to disperse protesters.
It was not immediately clear whether officers used anti-riot pellets or live ammunition as crowds blocked a major road and attacked a transport depot.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners detained by the NSCDC following enforcement operations around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
The President said every Nigerian life matters and that no citizen should die in government custody because of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also suspended the NSCDC state commander and ordered a full investigation into the deaths.
The development has sparked anger among residents and sympathisers, particularly following accounts from survivors suggesting that some of the detainees may have suffocated in overcrowded cells.
A 40-second video circulating online and purportedly showing victims of the incident showed the bodies of dozens of young men wearing only shorts. Most appeared to be teenagers and were seen lying on the ground outdoors.
An intelligence report seen by AFP suggested that overcrowding and inadequate ventilation contributed to the deaths. The civil defence authorities had initially attributed the deaths to disease.
Niger State is rich in mineral resources and attracts thousands of artisanal miners, many of whom are drawn by the prospect of finding gold.
Experts say competition over gold deposits from illegal mining sites in the state has also contributed to violence by criminal gangs, commonly known as bandits.
The gangs reportedly impose taxes on miners and demand a share of extracted ore in exchange for access to mining sites.
Amid the unrest, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago announced a nighttime curfew in Minna in an effort to restore calm.
The Interior Ministry confirmed the suspension of Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the NSCDC state commander, pending the investigation.
“A full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” Tunji-Ojo said in a statement.
