A surviving suspected illegal miner detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has alleged that an unknown substance resembling perfume was sprayed inside an overcrowded cell shortly before several detainees collapsed and died.
The survivor, who spoke in Hausa during a televised address on Friday, said the detainees were initially 17 in number before more people were brought into the small cell.
According to him, the detainees repeatedly complained about the overcrowded and extremely hot conditions, but additional people were still placed inside.
He said the situation became critical when officers were preparing to lock the cell and allegedly sprayed a substance that had a strong smell.
“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume. The smell started disturbing everyone, and that was when people began falling down,” he said.
The survivor also alleged that the heat inside the cell became unbearable and that the detainees pleaded with officers to provide water. He claimed they were told that nobody would open the cell that night.
The incident involved suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained in the cell before 37 of them died.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak but later said medical examinations would be necessary to determine the actual cause.
Authorities are now investigating several possible explanations, including suffocation caused by overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances linked to illegal mining activities.
Autopsies and forensic examinations are reportedly ongoing.
The Federal Government has ordered a full investigation into the deaths, while the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
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