Survivor recounts panic and struggle to breathe in Nigerian prison cell where 37 died

Protests erupted in Minna following the deaths of suspected illegal goldminers in custody, with police responding by firing teargas at demonstrators. A survivor described his harrowing experience inside a prison cell where dozens perished, contradicting the initial claim by a paramilitary group that the deaths resulted from a disease outbreak. Authorities have faced growing public outrage over the circumstances surrounding the incident, raising questions about accountability and safety conditions in detention. The unrest highlights tensions between security forces and communities over mining-related enforcement.

Police fire teargas as protests break out in the city of Minna after the deaths of the suspected illegal goldminersA survivor from a prison cell in Nigeria where 37 suspected illegal goldminers died while in the custody of a paramilitary group has recounted his panic and struggle for breath, as police fired teargas at people protesting against the deaths earlier this week.Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) – a paramilitary group that works with police – initially blamed the deaths in Minna, the state capital of mineral-rich Niger state, on a disease outbreak. Continue reading...