Some of the suspected illegal miners who shared same detention facility with the 37 suspects who died in custody have recounted their experience.

Daily Trust reports that at least 37 suspected illegal miners who were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) lost their lives barely two days after they were arrested.

In an interview with Zarar Bunu TV, some of the survivors narrated how the deceased gasped for breath as their lives gradually slipped away.

“Those who still had a vestige of life began crying out and banging hard on the door, but NSCDC personnel on duty remained unresponsive,” Dauda Shehu, one of the suspects told Zarar Bunu TV.

Shehu, alongside his colleagues, left Allawa village full of hope in search of greener pasture, unknown to them that death lay in wait for them.

“We exhausted every means to stay alive, including drinking our urine and calling for help, but no one came to our aid. The inmates on the left and right began falling one after another,” he continued.

According to Shehu, trouble began when community leaders in Lokoto, a small village and residential settlement located in the Bosso Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, demanded N150,000 for each mining pit.

Many of the young ‘illegal’ miners were unable to pay the amount.

“We met with them at the palace. They demanded N150k for each mining pit, but we complained that diamonds were not abundant in the area, and, therefore, we could not raise the amount. A few of us paid, while some promised to pay.”

“Sixty-six of us were put in one cell. Six people are currently on admission. They did not torture us, but there was excessive heat.

“We complained that the cell was too small to accommodate all of us, but they did not listen to us. We watched our colleagues die, and even when we raised the alarm, they thought we were lying.

“We drank urine because we couldn’t access water due to heat. Some people died in the night while others died in the morning on Thursday,” he said.

Aminu Sale (not real name) said that the suspects were drenched in sweat as they struggled to survive in the overcrowded cell.

“We shared, in turns, a small window for ventilation. Many of my friends and relatives have fallen,” he said.

Sale said that he is one of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, saying mining is the only source of his income.

Parents who appeared distressed after seeing the lifeless bodies of their children, called on the authorities to release the remains of their children for burial.

Hauwa Umar (not real name) said her nephew was among the victims and appealed to the authorities to release his remains for burial.

She said, “We don’t want our son in the mortuary. We need his remains. They cannot bring our son back, but they are holding his remains. This is sheer injustice.”

Ummi Halli (not real name) also appealed to the authorities to release the remains of the grandson.

She said, “Thy committed no offense. They were earning their living legitimately. His younger brother came panting to tell me about the death of his elder brother. We need his remains immediately.”

Malam Abdullahi, a security guard at A.A Rano filling station along Mai Tumbi, said he had sought bail for his son from the NSCDC for three days, but his request was declined.

He said, “I saw ambulances loaded with corpses. I took food to my son that night. I also took food to him in the morning, but found his lifeless body. I lost a breadwinner.” (Daily Trust)