Survivors who were detained alongside suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have recounted what they described as severe conditions inside the detention facility.
The accounts of the survivors emerged as the Federal Government ordered a full investigation into the deaths and suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.
The survivors alleged that the detainees were held in an overcrowded cell with limited ventilation and inadequate access to water before several people began falling ill and dying.
The accounts were reported following interviews conducted by Zarar Bunu TV and cited by Daily Trust.
Survivor Describes Final Hours Inside Cell
One of the survivors, Dauda Shehu, said those inside the facility began raising alarms when some detainees experienced severe difficulty breathing.
According to Shehu, detainees who were still able to move reportedly cried out and banged on the cell door for assistance, but he alleged that their calls did not receive the response they expected from personnel on duty.
“Those who still had a vestige of life began crying out and banging hard on the door, but NSCDC personnel on duty remained unresponsive,” Shehu was quoted as saying.
Shehu said he and other miners had travelled from Allawa village in search of a means of livelihood, unaware that they would subsequently be arrested during the security operation.
He alleged that the detainees tried different ways to cope with the conditions inside the cell as the situation deteriorated.
“We exhausted every means to stay alive, including drinking our urine and calling for help, but no one came to our aid. The inmates on the left and right began falling one after another,” he said.
Survivors Allege Overcrowding and Poor Ventilation
Shehu said 66 people were held in the same cell, describing the facility as too small for the number of detainees.
He alleged that excessive heat became a major problem and that repeated complaints about the size and conditions of the cell did not result in a significant change.
“Sixty-six of us were put in one cell. Six people are currently on admission. They did not torture us, but there was excessive heat,” he said.
According to his account, the detainees struggled to access sufficient ventilation and water as temperatures inside the cell increased.
“We complained that the cell was too small to accommodate all of us, but they did not listen to us. We watched our colleagues die, and even when we raised the alarm, they thought we were lying,” he said.
Shehu further alleged that some detainees died overnight while others died on Thursday morning.
The claims have not been independently established, and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain the subject of official investigations.
Another Survivor Describes Conditions in Cell
Another survivor, identified by Daily Trust as Aminu Sale, a name reportedly used to protect his identity, also described the conditions inside the detention facility.
Sale said detainees were heavily sweating as they struggled to cope with the conditions in the overcrowded cell.
He alleged that the detainees had to take turns using a small window to obtain ventilation.
“We shared, in turns, a small window for ventilation. Many of my friends and relatives have fallen,” he said.
Sale said he was among internally displaced persons from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and described mining as his main source of income.
Dispute Over Mining Pits Preceded Arrests
Shehu also alleged that problems began after community leaders in Lokoto, a settlement in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, demanded payment of N150,000 for each mining pit.
He said some of the miners could not afford the amount because of the limited availability of diamonds in the area.
“We met with them at the palace. They demanded N150k for each mining pit, but we complained that diamonds were not abundant in the area, and, therefore, we could not raise the amount. A few of us paid, while some promised to pay,” he said.
The account provides the survivors’ version of events leading up to the arrests. It does not, on its own, establish the circumstances under which the deaths occurred or determine responsibility for them.
Families Demand Release of Remains
Relatives of some of the deceased have also appealed to the authorities to release the remains of their loved ones for burial.
Hauwa Umar, identified as a relative speaking under a pseudonym, said her nephew was among those who died.
She appealed to the authorities to release his remains to the family, saying the family wanted to proceed with his burial.
“We don’t want our son in the mortuary. We need his remains. They cannot bring our son back, but they are holding his remains. This is sheer injustice,” she said.
Another relative, Ummi Halli, also appealed for the release of the remains of her grandson.
She disputed the description of the deceased as illegal miners and said they were earning their livelihoods through mining.
“They committed no offence. They were earning their living legitimately. His younger brother came panting to tell me about the death of his elder brother. We need his remains immediately,” she said.
‘I Lost a Breadwinner’
Another parent, Malam Abdullahi, said he had spent several days seeking the release of his son after the young man was detained by the NSCDC.
Abdullahi, a security guard at an A.A. Rano filling station along Mai Tumbi, said he had sought bail for his son for three days but was unsuccessful.
He said he later saw ambulances carrying bodies and subsequently discovered that his son had died.
“I saw ambulances loaded with corpses. I took food to my son that night. I also took food to him in the morning, but found his lifeless body. I lost a breadwinner,” he said.
FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant
The survivor accounts emerged as the Federal Government ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, over the deaths.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo also ordered a full investigation into the incident.
Tunji-Ojo described the incident as unfortunate and said the commandant under whose watch the deaths occurred would remain suspended while the investigation continues.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the minister said.
The minister also called for calm and urged members of the public to remain law-abiding while the investigation takes place.
Read: Niger Illegal Mining Deaths: FG Suspends NSCDC Commandant, Orders Full Investigation
NSCDC Had Earlier Reported Deaths in Custody
The Federal Government’s directive followed an earlier statement by the Niger State NSCDC Command concerning the deaths of suspects arrested during its anti-illegal mining operations.
The Bureau Journal had earlier reported the deaths of suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody, noting that the corps initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak while medical examinations were expected to establish the actual cause of death.
The NSCDC said the suspects had been arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 and were found dead on September 17.
The corps said the bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination.
The new survivor accounts have introduced additional allegations concerning overcrowding, excessive heat, ventilation and access to water. These claims are expected to form part of the questions investigators will have to examine.
Niger Government Sets Up Probe
The incident has also triggered a wider official response in Niger State.
The state government has constituted a committee to investigate the deaths and ordered forensic examinations and autopsies to help establish the cause of death.
The development comes as authorities face growing pressure to establish what happened to the detainees between their arrest and the discovery of their bodies.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the arrests, the conditions under which the suspects were detained and the events that preceded their deaths.
Illegal Mining Enforcement Under Scrutiny
The deaths occurred against the backdrop of intensified enforcement against illegal mining activities in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria.
Illegal mining has attracted increasing attention from security and environmental authorities because of concerns over environmental degradation, loss of government revenue and the potential links between mining sites and criminal activity.
The wider security environment has also seen increased operations by law-enforcement agencies across North-Central Nigeria.
In Kogi State, Nigerian forces arrested two suspected terrorists during a patrol operation in Ajaokuta, while other security operations in the state have focused on disrupting criminal networks and preventing the movement of suspected armed groups.
The Bureau Journal has also reported on a Kogi State Assembly bill seeking stronger measures against terrorists and criminals entering the state, reflecting the broader security debate across the North-Central region.
Security Accountability and Custody Conditions
The Niger incident has also renewed attention on the treatment of suspects held by security agencies and the safeguards that should apply during detention.
That discussion is taking place alongside broader debates about how Nigeria’s security architecture should operate and how law-enforcement institutions should be held accountable.
The Senate recently passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police in Nigeria, another major development in the country’s ongoing security reform debate.
Read: Senate Passes State Police Bill, Hands Governors Key Powers
The Bureau Journal has also published a detailed explainer on the proposed State Police Bill, including its funding, oversight mechanisms and safeguards.
Investigation Expected to Establish Cause of Death
The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths have not yet been conclusively established.
The medical examinations and investigations ordered by the authorities are expected to determine what caused the deaths and establish the conditions in which the detainees became ill.
Investigators are also expected to examine the accounts provided by survivors and relatives, alongside official records and other available evidence.
For now, the accounts of the survivors and families remain allegations and personal testimonies that require verification through the ongoing investigations and medical findings.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor the investigation and report official findings as they emerge.
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