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37 suspected illegal miners die in NSCDC custody
37 suspects accused of illegal mining in Niger State, Nigeria, have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The NSCDC had initially blamed the death on a disease outbreak while some reports say the suspects died from overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the detention facility.
Officials had arrested the group of young men on Tuesday for suspected illegal mining near Borgu, Niger State, a state known for small-scale gold mining.
37 of the detainees were however found dead inside the NSCDC detention centre.
While the NSCDC had earlier blamed the deaths on a possible diphtheria outbreak in the prison facility, the agency’s national headquarters later said the cause had not been established, as medical and laboratory tests would be required.
“The NSCDC wishes to clarify that reports attributing the deaths to any specific disease remain subject to medical and laboratory confirmation,” it said in a statement.
Speaking to the BBC, father of one of the detainees said: “We believe they suffocated because there was no ventilation.”
Abdullahi Dalhatu said his son had survived because he was near a small window. “His friend slumped and fainted, and many others also collapsed,” he said.
According to his son, the detainees began collapsing in the heat of the overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell, as they repeatedly knocked on the door for help.
Niger State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, in a press conference on Thursday, said the deaths were “sad and tragic,” declaring three days of mourning for the deceased.
Meanwhile the Niger State police command has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
In a statement, police sokesman Wasiu Abiodun said the command has commenced investigation into “the unfortunate death of suspected illegal miners while in the detention facility of the NSCDC.”
The victim’s bodies have since been taken to the general hospital in nearby Minna for examination, since the incident occurred.
