Nigeria: Miners arrested for illegal gold mining die of asphyxiation in prison

An official investigation in Nigeria found that 33 young men arrested for illegal gold mining died in September inside a cell in Minna, Niger State. Investigation team leader Jonathan Kure called the deaths an “avoidable prison tragedy.” The findings attributed the deaths to asphyxiation caused by overcrowding, poor ventilation, heat and dehydration, alongside inadequate supervision and systemic failures. Survivors said an irritant substance was sprayed inside the cell before the door was shut.