Miners’ deaths: Congested cell is hell on earth — Shehu Sani
Senator Shehu Sani has condemned overcrowding in detention facilities while reacting to the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Sani was imprisoned by the late Gen. Sani Abacha military regime and spent time in detention between 1995 and 1998.
He said in a post on X on Sunday that his experience had shown him the dangers of overcrowded cells.
“For those of us who have experienced prolonged detention in a crowded cell, we know the cruelty of the dungeon – the darkness, the asphyxiation, the sweat, the pungent odour, and the tears,” Sani wrote.
“When the heat becomes unbearable, one can only use a spoon or a plate to bang on the wall for some oxygen. If they refuse to open up for a temporary breeze of fresh air, blood can ooze from the nostrils, and then one can only shout and give up.
“A congested cell is hell on earth. It is a place where bringing your nose close to the window to breathe is a rare privilege reserved for the strong.
“I can feel what happened to the Niger minors. Those who are directly or indirectly involved in this must face the full wrath of the law for the rest of their lives.”
Thirty-seven suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody in Minna after they were arrested during operations against illegal mining in Niger State on September 15 and 16.
Survivors say about 65 detainees had been held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell and that some struggled for air before several of them died.
However, the cause of the deaths remains under investigation. While the NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, survivors alleged that overcrowding, heat, poor ventilation and dehydration contributed to the deaths.
The Niger State Government has also ordered forensic examinations and autopsies, while the Federal Government, the NSCDC and the police are investigating the incident.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, was suspended pending the outcome of the investigations. Other NSCDC personnel involved in the incident were also detained in Abuja.
