Inside the cell where 33 inmates lost their lives

Share Save Add as preferred on Google Madina Maishanu BBC Africa, Minna BBC Usman Muhammad survived but 33 others died in the cell and four others died later in hospital Usman Muhammad pauses by the entrance to a tiny Nigerian prison cell and leans his forehead against the wall unable to speak.

The day before he had been trapped inside the stifling room, measuring roughly 6m (19.7ft) by 3m (9.8ft), with more than 50 other prisoners.

Thirty-three of his cellmates died in the cramped conditions in the prison in Minna, the capital of Nigeria's Niger state - and four died later in hospital.

The mass deaths caused an outcry and sparked protests , including attacks on public buildings, as relatives and locals demanded answers.

Federal officials had initially blamed the deaths on a diphtheria outbreak but exactly what happened is now the subject of an investigation.