A shadow of darkness was cast on Niger State, located in the north-central region of Nigeria, where 37 young people (between ages 15 and 28) accused of illegal mining have died in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to the BBC, police have set up an investigation into the deaths, which the NSCDC blamed on an apparent disease outbreak.
However, intelligence reports by a news agency suggested the group had died because of overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the detention facility. Survivors account stated that some had to drink their own urine out of desperate thirst for water . The witness also alleged that a substance was sprayed into the cell, which caused them to foam at the mouth and bleed from their ears and nose.
The deaths have sparked protests and attacks on public buildings, and a 24-hour curfew imposed in the state capital, Minna, as a result.
These were young lives cut short in their prime. In an ideal world, they should be in school gaining an education, but due to the rising levels of multidimensional poverty, very young children are caught up in mining just to make ends meet.
This is what NTC provides opportunities, not just for children but for young people to build confidence, mental resilience, and vocational skills to prepare them to earn a living.
More than 50 arrests were made without charge. Held in custody, and 37 have now died.
As grieving family members came to identify their dead, a mother is pictured embracing the corpse of her one son, the breadwinner of her home.
The father of one of the detained people mentioned how many relatives of the people in detention had gone to the NSCDC office to see to their release but were told to return later.
The following day, they were greeted with the news that 37 of their children had died.
This tragedy has generated nationwide reactions, as the victims were named. Many Nigerians are demanding that the authorities be accountable to the grieving families and that justice is served.
