Usman Muhammad, a 20‑year‑old artisanal miner, was trapped in a cramped 6m by 3m cell in Minna, Niger State, where more than 50 detainees were crammed together. The cell, with no ventilation and humidity above 90%, became a death trap, resulting in 33 deaths inside the cell and four more in hospital.
The incident triggered protests that included attacks on public buildings as relatives demanded answers. Federal officials initially blamed a diphtheria outbreak, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
“I have never felt heat like that in my life. When we touched each other’s bodies, it felt like fire burning,” Muhammad told the BBC. He described how detainees drank urine and collected sweat to survive as the heat and dehydration worsened.
Adamu Isah, another survivor, recounted shouting for help and being met with indifference from guards. “We tried to break down the door when they refused to open it… the officer said it wasn’t his problem if people died,” he told Reuters.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has not disclosed the names of those detained but has placed 24 personnel, including the suspended Niger State commandant Suberu Aniviye, in custody. Governor Umaru Bago called the deaths “unacceptable” and welcomed a federal inquiry.
A 10‑member committee has been formed to investigate the deaths, with a two‑week deadline to determine causes, identify responsibility and recommend legal action. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo stated that no officer would be protected and any obstruction would be taken seriously.
As Muhammad leaves the cell after speaking to the BBC, he hopes that his testimony will lead to justice and closure for the families affected by the tragedy.
