Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed outrage over the reported death of 37 miners in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, revealing the disturbing account of a survivor who described the inhumane conditions they allegedly endured while detained.
Atiku, who recently visited Niger State and met with families of the deceased miners, recounted the ordeal in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, on Thursday.
According to the former Vice President, one of the survivors narrated how more than 68 miners were allegedly crammed into a small detention facility, where worsening conditions reportedly left them struggling to access drinking water.
The survivor reportedly told Atiku that the situation became so desperate that some detainees were forced to drink one another’s urine to remain hydrated.
Describing the account as a “gory tale,” Atiku condemned the alleged treatment of the miners and questioned how Nigerian citizens could be subjected to such conditions while in the custody of government authorities.
“It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors. He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated,” Atiku said.
He added:
“No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government.”
The development comes amid investigations ordered by both the federal and Niger State governments into the incident involving the deaths of 37 miners. The probes are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the conditions under which the miners were detained.
Atiku’s statement has brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding the treatment of detainees, accountability within security agencies, and the need for transparency in the ongoing investigations.
The circumstances surrounding the reported deaths, including the allegations concerning detention conditions, remain matters for the relevant investigations to establish.