- Survivors say they were sprayed inside a locked cell, despite cries for help
- Investigation panel named after government suspends some senior officials
- Deaths of 37 in custody, including many teenagers, triggered protests
- Hospital carries out forensic examination on some bodies
MINNA, Nigeria, Sept 22 – Nigerian prison guards sprayed an unidentified substance into a crowded cell where dozens of detainees died and kept the doors locked, ignoring cries for help, according to three survivors.
The 37 deaths, which included many teenagers working in artisanal gold mines, have triggered protests in Nigeria, raising fresh concerns about conditions in detention facilities and how the country’s security agencies treat suspects who are often held for extended periods while awaiting trial.
