A Nigerian believed to be in his forties has died in a detention centre in the United Kingdom.
The immigration detainee, who is yet to be named, was found dead on Thursday evening in his cell in Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre.
[ads]
The UK’s Home Office is investigating the incident, The Independent reports.
Another detainee, Tapiwa Furumdi, 24, who has been in the facility for a year, was said to have discovered the victim lying still in his cell.
“Someone had gone into the room and found a body and started making noise. Apparently he was already dead. I heard something like: ‘This bloody immigration, look what they’re doing to us,’” he said.
“When I looked in the room, his tongue looked all bloated out of his mouth. I’m still shaken up by it.”
[ads]
A Home Office spokesperson said the UK government condoles with the victim’s family and friends.
Human rights campaigners have long called for a 28-day limit for detention in removal centres, saying the system is severely damaging for the wellbeing of detainees.