Survivors have described panic and struggling to breathe in a prison cell in Minna, Nigeria, where 37 suspected illegal goldminers died in the custody of a paramilitary group, prompting protests met with police teargas.
Key facts
- 37 suspected illegal goldminers died in a prison cell in Minna, the capital of Niger state, Nigeria.
- The men were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary group that works with police.
- Survivors recounted their panic and struggle to breathe, according to the Guardian.
- The NSCDC initially blamed the deaths on a disease outbreak.
- Police fired teargas at people protesting against the deaths in Minna on Friday.
Survivors from a prison cell in Nigeria where 37 suspected illegal goldminers died while in the custody of a paramilitary group this week have recounted their panic and struggle for breath, according to the Guardian. The deaths occurred in Minna, the state capital of the mineral-rich Niger state.
The men had been held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary group that works alongside police. The Guardian reported that the NSCDC initially blamed the deaths on a disease outbreak.
One survivor described the panic and the difficulty breathing inside the cell, an account that has drawn attention to the conditions in which the detainees were held.
The deaths have triggered public anger. Police fired teargas at people protesting against the deaths in Minna on Friday, the Guardian reported.
The 37 who died were described as suspected illegal goldminers. Niger state is noted for its mineral wealth, and the case has placed scrutiny on how such suspects are detained.
The Guardian’s reporting focused on the survivors’ recollections and the protests that followed, with the NSCDC’s initial explanation of a disease outbreak being placed against the survivors’ accounts of struggling to breathe in the cell.
Why it matters
The deaths of 37 people in state custody raise serious questions about detention conditions and accountability within Nigeria's security agencies. The protests and police response reflect wider public concern about how suspects are held and treated.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died and where?
According to the Guardian, 37 suspected illegal goldminers died in a prison cell in Minna, the capital of Niger state, Nigeria.
Who was holding the detainees?
The men were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary group that works with police.
What explanation was given for the deaths?
The NSCDC initially blamed the deaths on a disease outbreak, according to the Guardian, though survivors described panic and struggling to breathe in the cell.