Nigeria: At least 37 dead in detention facility

At least 37 people have died in a detention facility in Niger State, Nigeria, after being held following arrests for suspected illegal mining. The individuals were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during operations in the villages of Lukoto and Wushishi.

While the NSCDC state commander, Suberu Suyaka Aniviye, suggested a disease outbreak might be responsible for the deaths discovered on Thursday morning, survivors have provided different accounts. One survivor, Dauda Shehu, reported that extreme overcrowding and poor ventilation led to a situation where detainees struggled to breathe.

The deceased have been moved to a hospital in Minna to determine the exact cause of death. In response to the incident, the state governor has declared a three-day mourning period, and protests, including tire burning, have broken out in parts of Minna.