Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has made fresh revelations about the deaths of 37 suspected miners in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the state.
Addressing newsmen on Friday, Bago said there was blood and foam in the victims’ mouths, which could indicate poisoning or suffocation.
According to him, there were also burns on the bodies of some of the victims, stating that further investigation would reveal what happened.
He added that possible causes being investigated included suffocation arising from overcrowding in the detention cell and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining.
“We just woke up to the news of the deaths; we don’t know what happened. Some of the victims were found with foam or blood in their mouths, which could indicate poisoning or suffocation. We are not sure.
“Samples were taken from some of them before they were buried. There were burns on the bodies of some. We really don’t know what happened, but investigation will unravel the truth,” the governor said.
Recall that youths in the state took to the streets to protest the incident, resulting in the imposition of a 24-hour curfew by the state government to forestall a breakdown of law and order.