NSCDC: Niger Artisanal Miners Custody Deaths, 37 Fatalities Reported

• Thirty-seven artisanal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
• The miners, including teenagers, were arrested on September 15 and 16 on allegations of illegal mining.
• A now-suspended NSCDC state commandant attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak in the facility during the early hours of Thursday.
• Former Senator Shehu Sani, drawing on his own experiences in crowded cells, described such conditions as 'hell on earth' and called for justice for those responsible.
• The incident highlights severe concerns regarding detention conditions and human rights in Nigerian facilities.

This tragic incident highlights the critical need for robust state accountability and a thorough re-evaluation of detention standards to prevent further loss of life in Nigerian custody.

A significant number of artisanal miners, totaling 37 individuals, tragically lost their lives while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. These fatalities occurred after the miners, some of whom were teenagers, had been apprehended on September 15 and 16. The arrests were made by NSCDC operatives on allegations related to illegal mining activities.

According to Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, who was the state commandant of the NSCDC at the time but has since been suspended and replaced by Abdulhamid Kabara, the deaths were attributed to a suspected disease outbreak within the detention facility. The fatalities reportedly took place during the early hours of a Thursday. This incident has drawn widespread concern and calls for accountability regarding the conditions under which detainees are held.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, publicly expressed his profound sympathy following the news of these deaths. Drawing on his own extensive experience with detention, Sani highlighted the severe challenges and inhumane conditions often faced by individuals held in overcrowded cells, suggesting a direct correlation with the recent Niger artisanal miners NSCDC custody deaths.

Shehu Sani, a civil rights activist with a history of arrests and imprisonment under successive past military regimes, recounted his personal ordeal in various high-security facilities across Nigeria. His experiences, shared publicly, paint a stark picture of what he described as a "hell on earth" within congested cells. He emphasized that the ability to simply breathe fresh air was a rare privilege, typically reserved for the strongest among the detainees.

Sani vividly detailed the difficult circumstances faced by those confined in cramped spaces, describing the "cruelty of the dungeon" through elements like darkness, asphyxiation, pervasive sweat, pungent odors, and tears. He recalled instances where detainees resorted to banging on cell walls with spoons and plates, desperately seeking attention from officials when the heat became unbearable, hoping to secure even a temporary influx of fresh air. This harrowing account sheds light on the severe illegal mining detention conditions Nigeria often presents.

He further elaborated on the dire consequences of such conditions, noting that without access to fresh air, blood could ooze from nostrils, leading to a point where one could only shout before succumbing. Sani’s testimony underscores the critical human rights violations Nigeria detention facilities can embody, particularly when cells are severely overcrowded, making the NSCDC Minna custody deaths a stark reminder of these systemic issues.

In the wake of the Niger State artisanal miners fatalities, Shehu Sani unequivocally called for justice, asserting that all individuals, whether directly or indirectly involved in the deaths of the miners, must face the full force of the law. His strong stance reflects a broader societal demand for accountability from state institutions responsible for the safety and well-being of detainees.

This tragic incident highlights the critical need for robust state accountability and a thorough re-evaluation of detention standards to prevent further loss of life in Nigerian custody. The deaths of 37 individuals, including teenagers, under the care of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, underscore the urgent necessity for improved oversight, better facility management, and strict adherence to human rights principles within all detention centers across the nation.

The incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential negligence and severe human rights implications associated with detention, especially for vulnerable populations like artisanal miners. It necessitates a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspected disease outbreak and the overall conditions that led to such a significant loss of life, ensuring that those responsible for these NSCDC Minna custody deaths are held to account.

This incident underscores the critical need for lawyers to monitor state accountability for deaths in custody and to advise clients on the severe human rights implications of detention in Nigeria, particularly concerning alleged illegal mining activities. It highlights potential negligence and the urgent need for improved detention standards.

Source: Original reporting via Daily Trust and AllAfrica