Families demand justice after deaths of 37 miners in detention

MINNA, Nigeria - Families of the victims of a tragic incident at a Nigerian paramilitary civil defence force holding cell are demanding justice. Thirty-seven young men died after being detained on suspicion of illegal goldmining. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) discovered the bodies on Thursday. Survivors described the deplorable conditions in the overcrowded cell, including poor ventilation and exposure to a stinging substance before the door was slammed shut.

Their desperate calls for help went unanswered. The deaths sparked violent protests in Minna city, the capital of mineral-rich Niger state, forcing police to fire shots to disperse the crowd. In response, Nigeria's government has appointed a 10-member independent panel to investigate the incident. The panel includes a retired intelligence officer, a medical expert, a human rights activist, and a miners' association, with two weeks to complete its investigation.

Local residents, including those who lost family members and suffered injuries, are demanding accountability and an end to official negligence, abuse, and dereliction of duty.