'I have never felt heat like that' - a survivor on watching 33 cellmates die in Nigeria
The BBC goes inside the prison where prisoners were trapped in stifling, cramped conditions.
Usman Muhammad stood by the entrance of a small prison cell in Minna, Nigeria, his forehead resting against the wall as he struggled to speak. He had been confined with over 50 other prisoners in a stifling room measuring approximately 19.7 feet by 9.8 feet. Thirty-three of his cellmates perished in these appalling conditions, with four succumbing later at a hospital.
The tragedy sparked widespread outrage and protests, as families and locals demanded accountability. Initially, federal officials attributed the deaths to a diphtheria outbreak, but a more thorough investigation is now underway. Muhammad recounted feeling an unbearable heat unlike anything he had ever experienced. The room was so humid, with humidity levels exceeding 90%, that sweat could not evaporate properly, a condition that can pose serious health risks.
Outside, temperatures soared above 25C, and the only source of ventilation was a small, high window. As the temperature rose and the prisoners became dehydrated, Muhammad watched helplessly as one of his cellmates fainted, prompting the guards to slam the door in their faces, allowing the deaths to continue one by one. The young artisanal miner, in his twenties, and his fellow detainees, mostly fellow gold miners, resorted to desperate measures to survive, even drinking their own urine and collecting sweat to stay hydrated.
Desperate cries for help went unheeded, and despite Muhammad and others pleading for assistance, the guards refused to intervene. Another survivor, Adamu Isah, echoed Muhammad's account, detailing the desperate situation and their efforts to break down the door. Eventually, on Thursday, the cell door was forced open, revealing the dead bodies inside.
While the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken some personnel into custody, the governor of Niger state remains unsatisfied and has called for a thorough investigation. A 10-member committee has been formed to determine the cause of the deaths and identify those responsible, with a deadline of two weeks to complete their report.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
