A survivor of the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has recounted the conditions inside the cell where the detainees were held.
The survivor said the detainees were kept in a cramped room, with 17 people initially placed inside before more were brought in.
He said the occupants complained about the limited space and excessive heat but remained in the room.
According to him, the situation became more uncomfortable as additional detainees were brought into the cell.
He recalled that the detainees were asked to stand as officers prepared to lock the room.
The survivor alleged that an unidentified substance was then sprayed inside the cell.
“They sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room,” he said.
He did not identify the substance or explain what happened to the other detainees after it was sprayed.
The account comes amid concerns over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were being held by the NSCDC in Niger State.
The survivor’s account has raised further questions about the conditions under which the detainees were kept. However, his allegation about the substance has not established what it was or whether it was connected to the deaths.
