The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has disclosed details of what he said one of the surviving miners told him about the conditions at a Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) detention facility in Niger State.

Atiku, in a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, on Thursday, described the account as harrowing after visiting the state and families of the deceased miners.

According to Atiku, the survivor told him that more than 68 miners were crammed into a small detention facility.

He said the conditions reportedly became so desperate that some of the detainees had to drink one another’s urine to remain hydrated.

“It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors. He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated,” Atiku quoted the survivor as saying.

Atiku condemned the alleged treatment, stating that no Nigerian should be subjected to such conditions while in government custody.

The Federal Government and Niger State Government have ordered investigations into the incident.