66 Of Us Were Locked In One Cell— Survivor Reveals Horror Before 37 Suspected Miners Died

Survivors of a detention incident involving suspected illegal miners in Niger State have recounted the harsh conditions they allegedly experienced before 37 detainees died in custody.

According to Bush Radio Academy, one of the survivors, Dauda Shehu, said 66 detainees were confined to a single cell where they allegedly struggled with extreme heat, overcrowding and a lack of adequate water.

Speaking in an interview with Zarar Bunu TV, Shehu claimed that several detainees repeatedly called for help and banged on the cell door as their condition deteriorated, but alleged that security personnel on duty failed to respond.

He said the detainees resorted to desperate measures in an attempt to survive, including drinking their own urine after they were unable to access water.

“We exhausted every means to stay alive, including drinking our urine and calling for help, but no one came to our aid,” Shehu alleged, adding that detainees began collapsing one after another.

Shehu claimed that the situation was worsened by the overcrowded nature of the cell, saying the detainees had complained about the lack of space but their concerns were allegedly not addressed.

According to him, the miners’ detention followed a dispute involving community leaders in Lokoto, a settlement in Bosso Local Government Area, who allegedly demanded ₦150,000 for each mining pit operated in the area.

Shehu said some of the miners were unable to raise the money because of the limited mining opportunities available in the community. He added that some detainees paid while others promised to make payment.

He further claimed that six survivors were receiving medical attention after the incident, while some detainees died during the night and others in the morning.

Another survivor, identified as Aminu Sale, which he said was not his real name, also described the conditions inside the facility as difficult. He said detainees were drenched in sweat and struggled to breathe because of the poor ventilation.

Sale claimed that detainees had to take turns using a small window for ventilation as they struggled to cope with the heat inside the facility.

He said he was an internally displaced person from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and explained that mining had become his main source of income.

The accounts from the survivors come amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners while in detention. Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.