Amnesty International has raised concerns over the conditions in which 67 suspected miners were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State, after 37 detainees reportedly died in custody.
The organisation’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said the circumstances surrounding the deaths required closer scrutiny, particularly the number of people held in the detention facility.
Speaking on Arise News, Sanusi said findings from Amnesty International’s investigation indicated that the cell was designed to accommodate no more than 10 people, but 67 detainees were reportedly held there.
He said the situation was made worse by extremely hot weather in Minna between Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16.
“Based on the investigation we have conducted so far, the cell where they were held was designed to accommodate no more than 10 people, yet 67 people were detained there,” Sanusi said.
A survivor of the incident had earlier described the conditions inside the cell, saying 17 people were initially locked in the small room before more detainees were brought in.
The survivor reportedly said the detainees complained about the cramped space and intense heat but remained locked inside. He also alleged that an unidentified substance resembling perfume was sprayed into the room.
Sanusi further cautioned against describing the deceased as “illegal miners,” arguing that such a description was prejudicial, particularly because those who died were no longer alive to respond to the allegation.
He said the circumstances surrounding the detention and deaths raised serious human rights concerns that required investigation.
“These are serious human rights issues that we need to be talking about, particularly the decision to detain 67 people in a facility meant to accommodate no more than 10,” he said.
