Nigeria is currently holding investigations regarding the deaths of 37 people who were detained over suspected illegal mining, after protests broke out in the city of Minna and new survivor accounts raised questions about the conditions inside the detention facility.
The victims were arrested during raids on suspected illegal gold-mining operations that took place in Niger State on September 15 and 16 this year by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Their deaths were announced on September 17, which first made officials suggest that an unidentified disease could have been responsible for this event. Authorities have since emphasised that they have not yet established or identified the cause of death.
Demonstrations erupted in Minna, with protesters gathering near NSCDC offices and reports of clashes with security forces. Authorities subsequently ended up imposing a curfew as unrest continued to spread. The National Human Rights Commission has also started a preliminary investigation and called for an independent forensic examination.
Reports which were made recently have added accounts from survivors who said dozens of detainees were packed into a small, poorly ventilated cell. They accused authorities of spraying an unidentified substance inside the cell after complaints about overcrowding, which led to breathing difficulties and people collapsing. Reuters reported that it could not verify the accounts or identify the substance used.
The federal government has responded by launching a 10-member independent committee to investigate the arrests, detention conditions and circumstances surrounding the deaths. The Interior Ministry has also suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and other officers connected with the incident pending the investigation. The committee has been given two weeks to submit its report.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full investigation and said officials found responsible through evidence should face prosecution. At the same time, the authorities continue to investigate illegal mining, which remains a significant security and economic challenge in parts of Nigeria.
An investigation is now expected to determine what happened inside the detention facility and establish the precise cause of the deaths.
