OMM Redaksiyası
Thirty-seven people have died at a detention center in Minna, the capital of Nigeria’s Niger State. Survivors said guards sprayed an unidentified substance into an overcrowded cell and kept the doors locked as detainees struggled to breathe.
The incident has sparked protests. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered an investigation. Several senior officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Who were the detainees?
Most of those who died were reportedly teenagers and young men working in illegal mining, particularly artisanal gold mining. They were detained during raids targeting illegal mining activities.
Adamu Isah, 22, said 17 people were initially placed in a cell measuring about 5 square meters on Sept. 17, and around 50 more were later brought in. After the detainees complained about the overcrowding, officers allegedly sprayed an unidentified substance through the gap beneath the door.
Isah said that about an hour later, people in the cell began behaving strangely, losing consciousness and dying. Another survivor, Dauda Shehu, said the substance had “a smell similar to perfume.” He said that several hours later, the detainees began experiencing itchy throats and difficulty breathing.
Cause of deaths not yet determined
A third survivor gave a similar account to Nigerian television, saying detainees had repeatedly complained about the cramped conditions before a substance with “a smell resembling pepper” was sprayed into the cell.
The NSCDC initially said the deaths could have been linked to an outbreak of disease. It later said the cause of death was unknown and would be investigated.
Many of the victims were buried shortly afterward in line with Islamic tradition. The bodies of six people remain at the Niger State General Hospital.
One person killed during protests
Protests over the deaths ended in clashes on Friday, in which one person was killed. Authorities subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew.
Nigeria’s detention facilities have faced recurring concerns over overcrowding and conditions of confinement. The investigation is expected to establish the substance used, determine the cause of the deaths and assess possible responsibility among officials.
