Niger mining tragedy: NSCDC officials sprayed unknown substance on miners – Survivor alleges
A survivor of a recent illegal mining incident in Niger State has accused officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of spraying an unknown substance in a holding cell where miners were detained.
The allegation surfaced during a visit from the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the survivors who are currently being held by the Department of State Services (DSS). A video of the visit was shared by the account @NigAffairs on the social media platform X.
The survivor recounted that 17 miners were initially placed in a small room, which later increased to 25 when eight additional individuals were added. He stated that despite their protests about the overcrowding, they were ordered to stand.
“Later, we were taken to another cell. It was extremely hot, and they locked us inside,” the survivor said. “Then they began spraying something. After that, some people started collapsing.”
He noted that although some individuals remained conscious, they were told to stay in the cell despite their concerns for those who were losing consciousness. “We told them that people were dying, but they did not listen,” he claimed.
The minister’s visit was part of a broader effort to gather information on the circumstances surrounding the tragic mining incident and to obtain firsthand accounts from the survivors.
