More than 30 young men arrested for suspected illegal mining in Niger State have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to reports, the detainees were held in an overcrowded and unventilated cell under extreme heat. Survivors said about 65 to 66 people were packed into the cell with no working fan or proper ventilation. They allegedly banged on the door pleading for air but were ignored before many of them suffocated.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, including the possibility of diphtheria. However, accounts from survivors pointed to the harsh conditions in the cell as the primary cause.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has confirmed that 37 people died in the incident during the press conference on Friday. He has suspended the NSCDC commandant in the State, declared three days of mourning, and ordered investigations in collaboration with federal authorities to determine the exact cause of the deaths.
The tragedy has drawn widespread concern over detention conditions and the treatment of suspects in the custody of security agencies, with residents attacking NSCDC official while protesting against the incident.
