By Wisdom Udeh
Don’t Call Them Illegal Miners — Amnesty Raises Alarm Over Deaths in NSCDC Custody
The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, has criticized the characterization of 37 deceased detainees as “illegal miners,” warning that labeling the victims before a full investigation is prejudicial, particularly as they can no longer defend themselves.
The statement follows the reported deaths of dozens of individuals held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) after their arrest as suspected illegal gold miners in Niger State.
A survivor from the facility described harrowing conditions, alleging extreme heat and severe overcrowding. According to his account, authorities initially locked 17 individuals inside a small cell before forcing dozens more into the same room.
Despite repeated pleas regarding the unbearable heat and lack of space, detainees remained confined. The survivor also alleged that an unidentified chemical substance, which smelled similar to perfume, was sprayed into the closed room.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Sanusi revealed that Amnesty International’s preliminary findings point to severe rights violations and unsafe detention practices.
“Based on our investigation so far, the cell was designed to accommodate a maximum of 10 people, yet 67 individuals were detained there,” Sanusi said.
He emphasized that weather conditions exacerbated the situation, noting that Minna experienced severe heat between Tuesday, the 15th, and Wednesday, the 16th.
“These are critical human rights violations,” Sanusi added. “Holding 67 people in a facility built for 10 demands immediate accountability and a transparent investigation.”
