A survivor of the deadly illegal mining incident in Niger State has alleged that some officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) sprayed an unidentified substance inside a cell where miners were being detained.
The survivor made the allegation while speaking to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during his visit to some of those who survived the incident.
The affected miners are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
A video of the minister’s interaction with the survivors was shared on X by @NigAffairs.
Survivor recounts what happened
According to the survivor, the miners were initially kept in a small room before being moved into a cell.
He said 17 people were initially placed in the room, after which eight additional people were brought in despite complaints that the space was too small.
“They put us in a small room. There were 17 of us, and they put us there. Then they brought eight more people. We told them that the room was too small and that it was not enough for us, but they told us to stand up, so we stood up.
“They later took us to the cell. It was very hot there, and they locked us inside. They then started spraying something. After that, some people started falling down.
“Some of us were still conscious, but they said we should remain there. We told them that people were dying, but they did not listen.
“I did not know what the substance was, but after they sprayed it, people started falling down. That was what happened to us,” the survivor alleged.
He further claimed that the incident happened after the miners had been arrested and taken into custody.
Minister visits survivors
Tunji-Ojo’s visit formed part of efforts by the authorities to establish what occurred during the tragic mining incident and obtain firsthand accounts from those who survived.
The survivor’s allegation about the substance allegedly sprayed in the detention cell has not, from the information provided, been independently established.
The account is therefore an allegation by a survivor and would require investigation to determine what substance was used, who authorised its use and whether it was connected to the deaths and injuries reported among the miners.
Watch the video below:
‘They sprayed something in the cell after putting us inside, and people started falling down’
– Surviving miner of the tragic illegal mining incident in Niger State indicts NSCDC officials during Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s visit to some of the survivors who are… pic.twitter.com/2PMVRg4c89
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) September 18, 2026
