Amnesty International has raised concerns over the description of 37 people who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State as “illegal miners.”
The organisation said it was inappropriate to label the deceased in such a manner, particularly because they were no longer alive to respond to the allegation.
Amnesty International Nigeria Country Director, Isa Sanusi, made the position known while commenting on the deaths of the detainees, who had been described as suspected illegal gold miners.
According to Sanusi, investigations by the organisation revealed serious concerns about the conditions under which the detainees were held.
He said, “Based on the investigation we have conducted so far, the cell where they were held was designed to accommodate no more than 10 people, yet 67 people were detained there.”
Sanusi explained that the overcrowding occurred between Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, a period when Minna was experiencing extremely hot weather.
He further described the situation as a major human rights concern, particularly the decision to keep dozens of people in a facility meant for only a fraction of that number.
“These are serious human rights issues that we need to be talking about, particularly the decision to detain 67 people in a facility meant to accommodate no more than 10,” Sanusi added.
The development followed reports of the deaths of the detainees while in NSCDC custody, with some survivors also recounting their experiences inside the detention facility.
One survivor alleged that 17 people were initially locked inside a small room before more detainees were brought in. He also claimed that those detained complained about the size of the room and the intense heat but were kept there.
The survivor further alleged that an unidentified substance, which he described as resembling perfume, was sprayed inside the room.
