Nigeria’s Niger state is reeling after 37 suspected illegal goldminers died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) this week. Survivors described a harrowing experience of overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, as protests erupted and police fired teargas in the city of Minna.

Overcrowded Cell and Lack of Ventilation

The victims—many of whom were children—were found dead in the NSCDC cells after raids on suspected illegal goldmines. An intelligence report seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP) suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation were the likely causes of death. The paramilitary group initially claimed the deaths were due to a disease outbreak.

State governor Umar Bago said many of the dead were children aged 14 to 18. “There are issues of illegal mining and it is taking a toll on our children,” he said.

Survivors Describe the Struggle for Air

Dauda Shehu, a survivor from the cell, described the chaotic scene to journalists at a hospital. “We were jam-packed in the cell, no ventilation for us to breathe well. All of a sudden we realised that we could not breathe and we were all scampering for where to get fresh air, we even appealed to them several times, banged the cell door, but they refused to answer us,” he said.

A video shared online showed dozens of young men clad in shorts, most of them teenagers. Volunteers in gloves were seen identifying bodies, while veiled women tried to locate their relatives. Curses against those responsible could be heard in the background.

Another survivor, who asked not to be named, said he survived because he was near the entrance. “We were screaming for help,” he said, noting that guards did not believe the detainees’ pleas that people were dying one after another.

Protests, Curfew, and Government Response

Protests erupted in Minna on Thursday evening, with miners and their families gathering near the NSCDC office. Police used teargas to disperse the crowd, and Reuters reported that security forces fired live rounds as protesters, some armed with sticks and machetes, called for justice. At least one body was found on the streets, and soldiers and police patrolled to restore order.

A 24-hour curfew was imposed on Friday, and security forces appeared to have temporarily restored calm in the city. The NSCDC confirmed that the detainees had been arrested on 15 and 16 September during raids on illegal goldmines in the Wushishi-Lukoto area west of Minna.

Nigeria’s interior minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension of Niger state’s NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of an investigation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also ordered an investigation into the deaths, following the suspension of some senior officials.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago later confirmed the death toll at 37. He declared three days of mourning and postponed the start of campaigning for January elections. The deceased were buried on Thursday according to Islamic tradition, without any forensic investigations.