A Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, Usman Isah Ndamaka, has admitted that fear of being overpowered prevented him from opening a detention cell where 37 miners were reportedly trapped and died in Niger State.
Ndamaka, who was in charge of the NSCDC detention facility in the state, made the admission on Wednesday while testifying before a Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Minna. He broke down in tears as he recounted the incident, describing the cell as overcrowded and excessively hot.
The officer told the panel that he heard the detainees screaming for help but did not unlock the cell because he feared they would overpower him.
“I heard them screaming in the cell till they died. The fear of being overpowered by them prevented me from opening the cell door, despite hearing them screaming and shouting because of overcrowding and the heat inside,” he said.
He also explained that the miners were brought to the facility late in the evening amid heavy rainfall, adding that the number of officers available on duty was insufficient to manage the detainees.
Expressing remorse over the incident, Ndamaka accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised to the families of the deceased.
“I am very sorry for the deaths of the miners in my custody. It is unfortunate that this happened under my watch.
“I am pained, and it is very unfortunate that this happened. I am very sorry. I admit my mistake,” he said.
The Niger State Government had earlier disclosed that 37 miners died after they were arrested at the M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna over alleged illegal mining activities.
The officer’s testimony before the commission has brought further attention to the circumstances surrounding the deaths, particularly the reported overcrowding, extreme heat inside the cell and the failure to respond to the detainees’ cries for help.
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