Survivors of the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have recounted how detainees struggled to breathe inside an overcrowded cell in Minna, Niger State.

One of the survivors, Dauda Shehu, told journalists at a hospital on Friday that the cell was overcrowded and poorly ventilated, leaving detainees struggling to find fresh air.

Shehu said the detainees repeatedly appealed to the officers and banged on the cell door after some people began experiencing breathing difficulties, but their calls for assistance were allegedly not answered.

Another survivor, who requested anonymity, said he escaped death because he was positioned close to the entrance of the cell, where he was able to access more air.

He said detainees screamed for help and informed the guards that people were dying one after another, but alleged that their warnings were not taken seriously.

The incident occurred after suspected illegal miners were detained during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained in the NSCDC facility, with 37 subsequently dying in custody. Authorities are investigating possible causes, including suffocation resulting from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances associated with mining activities.

The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak but later said the actual cause had not been established and would require medical and laboratory examinations.

The deaths triggered protests in Minna, with reports of vandalism and disruption in parts of the city. Governor Bago subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew to restore order.

The Federal Government has ordered a full investigation into the incident. The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, also visited the state and pledged a thorough investigation, saying the police would work with the NSCDC and state government to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Meanwhile, medical, forensic and biological teams have been deployed to collect evidence, while autopsies and other examinations are expected to help establish the actual cause of death.