THEY SPRAYED SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE PERFUME — SURVIVOR RECOUNTS HORROR BEFORE 37 MINERS’ DEATHS

A survivor of the incident that claimed the lives of 37 suspected illegal gold miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has recounted how detainees struggled for breath inside an overcrowded room.

The survivor, who spoke about the incident on Friday, said 17 people were initially locked inside a small room before additional detainees were brought in.

He said the occupants complained that the room was too small and uncomfortable, but more people were allegedly brought in despite their concerns.

“They locked us in a very small room. We were 17 in number, then they added more people, and we started complaining that the room was small,” he said.

According to him, the situation worsened as the detainees were asked to stand while the room was about to be locked.

He alleged that an unidentified substance was then sprayed inside the room.

“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room,” he said.

The survivor said the heat inside the room subsequently became intense, while some of the detainees began collapsing.

He said those trapped inside repeatedly pleaded for water but were allegedly told that the door would not be opened.

“We pleaded with them to give us water, but they said no one would open the door for us,” he said.

Another survivor, who requested anonymity, said he was able to survive because he was close to the entrance of the room, where he had better access to air.

“We were screaming for help,” he said.

He alleged that the guards were informed that people were dying inside the room but initially did not believe the reports.

According to him, the detainees told the guards that “people are dying one after the other”.

The survivors’ accounts have added to concerns surrounding the circumstances of the deaths, although they do not independently establish what caused the fatalities.

Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the events leading to the deaths and establish whether any hazardous substance or other factors contributed to the tragedy.