Panel finds that 37 suspected illegal miners suffocated in overcrowded cell in Nigeria

A Nigerian government investigation panel said Tuesday that 37 suspected illegal miners died last month after suffocating in an overcrowded cell at a security facility. The deaths, which occurred while the suspects were in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), have triggered protests and renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s detention practices. The men were arrested in September in Niger state over alleged illegal mining. Initially, the NSCDC blamed the deaths on a disease outbreak, a claim survivors rejected. Committee head Jonathan Kure said about 50 male detainees were held in roughly 20 square meters, and the deaths resulted from severe overcrowding and systemic failures.