Niger miners’ death: What survivor told me – Atiku

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has disclosed a harrowing account he said he received from a survivor of the 37 miners who died in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps custody in Niger State.

Atiku, in a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu,as reported by Daily Post, said he received the account during his visit to the state and meetings with families of the deceased.

According to him, the survivor said more than 68 detainees were crammed into a small NSCDC detention facility, where conditions allegedly became so desperate that some resorted to drinking one another’s urine to remain hydrated.

“It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors,” Atiku said, describing the reported conditions as unacceptable for people in government custody.

He added that no Nigerian should be subjected to such treatment, regardless of the allegations against them.

The Federal Government and Niger State Government have ordered separate investigations into the deaths and circumstances surrounding the detention of the miners.