A survivor of the incident in which 37 suspected illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has alleged that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside their overcrowded detention cell shortly before several detainees began collapsing.

The survivor made the allegation on Friday, September 18, during a visit by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to some of the surviving detainees.

According to the survivor, 17 people were initially locked inside a small room, before more detainees were brought in. He said the detainees complained about the size of the room and the intense heat but were nevertheless kept inside.

He alleged that, as officers prepared to lock the room, a substance resembling perfume was sprayed inside.

“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room, and that’s how people started falling down,” the survivor said, according to Channels Television.

He further alleged that the room became increasingly hot and that detainees pleaded with officers for water but were told that no one would open the door.

Another survivor reportedly said he escaped because he was positioned close to the cell entrance, where he could breathe more easily. He also claimed that detainees called for help as people began collapsing.

The allegations have added to questions surrounding the circumstances of the deaths.

The NSCDC initially said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following a suspected disease outbreak. The Corps subsequently stated that the actual cause of death had not been established and that medical examinations would be required.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago later confirmed that 37 detainees had died. Reports said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been held in the NSCDC facility following enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas on September 15 and 16.

The Federal Government has ordered a full investigation into the incident. The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. President Bola Tinubu has also directed that anyone found responsible for the deaths should face prosecution.

Authorities have yet to establish the cause of death conclusively. Medical and forensic investigations are expected to determine whether the deaths were linked to illness, overcrowding, poor ventilation, exposure to a substance or other factors.

The incident has sparked protests in Minna, with security forces using tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding answers over the deaths. The Niger State Government subsequently imposed a curfew following unrest in the state capital.

The survivor’s allegation about the unidentified substance remains unverified, and there is currently no official finding establishing that the substance caused or contributed to the deaths. Authorities have said the investigation must determine what happened before conclusions are reached.