Nigerian security forces fired on protesters and used tear gas in Minna as hundreds rallied over the deaths of 37 miners who died in police custody. The demonstrations entered their second day on Friday in Niger State’s mineral-rich capital.
It was not immediately clear whether live ammunition or anti-riot pellets had been used. A witness told the Reuters news agency that bullets were fired, while the body of one person was seen on the ground.
State governor Umar Bago has imposed a 24-hour curfew as the government pledged a full investigation into the deaths.
Investigation into miners’ deaths
The miners were arrested earlier this week during raids in the Wushishi-Lukoto area, west of Minna, on suspicion of illegal mining. They died while being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary agency.
The NSCDC initially suggested that an outbreak of disease could have caused the deaths, but later said the cause had not been confirmed. It said further investigations, including medical examinations, would be carried out.
All 37 bodies were buried on Thursday evening, however, prompting questions about whether post-mortems will still be possible.
An intelligence report seen by the AFP news agency suggested that poor ventilation and overcrowding in the cells may have caused the deaths. Protesters told the Associated Press that some of the miners had suffocated.
Survivor Dauda Shehu said detainees had struggled to breathe in the overcrowded cell and had repeatedly appealed for help.
“We were jam-packed in the cell, no ventilation for us to breathe well,” he told journalists at a central Nigerian hospital. “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.”
Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the NSCDC’s commandant in Niger State, has been suspended by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo while the deaths are investigated.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the Interior Ministry said.
Niger State has large deposits of minerals including gold and uranium, and mining is a major part of its economy. Illegal mining is widespread in Nigeria and has been blamed for fuelling violence between armed groups competing for control of the trade.
