Amnesty International has raised fresh concerns over the deaths of 37 suspected miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The organisation’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said it was inappropriate to describe the deceased as “illegal miners,” particularly because they were no longer alive to respond to the allegation or defend themselves.
The deaths have triggered questions over the conditions under which the detainees were held and what may have happened inside the facility before the fatalities were recorded.
According to reports, some survivors have recounted their experiences while in detention, including allegations about overcrowding and extreme heat inside the cell.
One survivor reportedly said 17 people were initially locked inside a small room before more detainees were brought in. Despite complaints about the limited space and intense heat, the detainees were allegedly kept inside.
The survivor also alleged that an unidentified substance, which reportedly looked like perfume, was sprayed inside the room.
Speaking on Arise News, Sanusi said Amnesty International’s investigation had uncovered concerns about the number of people detained in the facility.
“Based on the investigation we have conducted so far, the cell where they were held was designed to accommodate no more than 10 people, yet 67 people were detained there,” he said.
Sanusi also pointed to the weather conditions at the time, noting that Minna experienced extremely hot weather between Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16.
He described the situation as a serious human rights concern, particularly the decision to hold 67 people in a facility reportedly designed for no more than 10.
The allegations have added to calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the conditions under which the detainees were held.
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