Niger Miners’ Deaths: ‘NSCDC operatives locked us up, sprayed substance like perfume,’ survivor alleges
One of the survivors of illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has recounted how a substance resembling perfume was sprayed inside the room where they were locked up.
In a video recorded by Channels TV, the survivor spoke in Hausa in the presence of Governor Umar Bago of the state and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday.
He said, “They locked us in a very small room. We were 17 in number. Then they added more people. And we started complaining that the room was small. The room was very hot.
“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room, and that’s how people started falling down.
“The room became extremely hot. We pleaded with them to give us water, but they said no one would open the door for us that same night,” he said.
Peoples Gazette had earlier reported that 37 alleged illegal miners died in the custody of the NSCDC in the state, with the corps attributing the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak.
The Gazette also reported that Mr Bago had imposed a curfew in the state following an uproar caused by residents.
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