Nigeria Panel: 37 Suspected Miners Suffocated in Overcrowded Cell
An investigation found severe overcrowding and inadequate conditions led to the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Nigeria.
A Nigerian government investigation panel has determined that 37 suspected illegal miners died from suffocation in an overcrowded cell last month. The suspects had been arrested by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for alleged illegal mining activities in Niger state in September.
The NSCDC had initially attributed the deaths to a disease outbreak within the cell, a claim disputed by survivors.
According to Jonathan Kure, who led the investigation committee formed by the Ministry of Interior, approximately 50 male detainees were held in a space measuring about 20 square meters (215 square feet). Kure stated that the deaths were a result of "severe overcrowding, unlawful and unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care, disregard of repeated distress warnings, inadequate supervision and wider systemic deficiencies."
The committee also noted that the arrests were carried out without sufficient planning or consultation with relevant mining authorities.
In response to the findings, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, suspended the NSCDC's Niger state commandant and other officers involved. The panel has recommended compensation for the bereaved families, proposing 30 million naira (approximately $22,000) for each family, and 10 million naira (approximately $7,000) for each of the 41 survivors.
Illegal mining is a persistent issue in Nigeria, often fueled by inadequate regulation and weak enforcement, and is believed by analysts to contribute to the funding of armed groups.