Survivor alleges extreme heat, overcrowding and poor ventilation as detainees struggled for air before dozens reportedly died in custody.
A survivor of the Niger State detention tragedy has recounted the harrowing conditions inside an NSCDC cell where 37 suspected illegal miners reportedly died while in custody.
According to the survivor, the detainees were subjected to extreme heat, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, leaving many struggling to breathe and desperate for water and fresh air.
The survivor alleged that the situation became so unbearable that some detainees resorted to drinking their own urine in an attempt to survive after access to water became severely limited.
He further described how detainees reportedly cried for help and banged on the cell door as people began collapsing, while others took turns positioning themselves near openings in the cell in an effort to get air.
The incident occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested and detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The Niger State Government has confirmed that 37 detainees died in the incident, prompting widespread concern and calls for accountability over the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The NSCDC has maintained that the deaths were linked to a suspected disease outbreak, but survivor accounts have raised questions about the conditions in which the detainees were held.
Authorities have since commenced investigations into the incident, while senior NSCDC officials in the state have reportedly been suspended pending the outcome of the probe.
The exact cause of the deaths remains subject to official investigation, with authorities expected to establish what led to the mass fatalities and determine whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the treatment and welfare of people held in custodial facilities, particularly regarding overcrowding, access to basic necessities, ventilation and emergency medical response.
