Nigerian police investigate deaths of 37 illegal mining suspects in custody

Nigerian police have initiated an investigation into the deaths of 37 individuals who were in custody following their arrest for illegal mining activities. On Thursday, officials attributed the deaths to a disease outbreak. However, an intelligence report from the AFP news agency indicated that overcrowding and inadequate ventilation in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) detention facility in Niger State may have contributed to the fatalities. The suspects were apprehended during an operation targeting illegal mining on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the head of the NSCDC in Niger State. This region is recognized for small-scale gold mining. Aniviye stated that officials suspect disease as the cause of death, and the bodies have been sent for further medical examination to determine the exact cause. He did not specify the type of disease suspected. Survivor Dauda Shehu reported to The Associated Press that 65 detainees were confined in a poorly ventilated cell, suggesting suffocation as a possible cause of death. Shehu described the situation, stating, "We were jam-packed and there was no ventilation for us to breathe well. All of a sudden, we realised that we could not breathe and we started scrambling to get fresh air." Shehu also mentioned that detainees attempted to alert the guards by banging on the cell door. Investigators are encouraging relatives of the victims to provide any information that may assist in the investigation. Niger State Governor Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago declared three days of mourning, referring to the deaths as "sad and tragic." Protests reportedly erupted on Thursday evening, prompting police to respond with tear gas. Local reports indicate that NSCDC commander Aniviye has been suspended.