‘I’ve seen a lot in here, but nothing like this’: Nigerian man dies in UK’s largest detention centre
‘He kept himself to himself. He didn’t talk much at all. I don’t think he was happy in here’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Nigerian man has been found dead in his cell at Britain’s largest detention centre – with authorities launching an investigation into the incident.
Oscar Okwurime was discovered lying in his cell at Harmondsworth removal centre by another detainee on Thursday evening.
Tapiwa Furumdi, 24, who has been in Harmondsworth for a year, was in the next cell at the time. He told The Independent he heard a voice from the room expressing shock and anger.
“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.”
Mr Furumdi, a Zimbabwean national, said officers attended the scene quickly, but that “it was quite apparent that he was already dead”. He said it was not clear how he had died.
The 24-year-old said he didn’t know the Mr Okwurime well, but that he was a “quiet guy”, adding: “He kept himself to himself, a really private person. He didn’t talk much at all.
“I don’t think he was happy in here. It’s sad. I felt sorry for the guy.”
Mr Furumdi said the Mr Okwurime didn’t appear to have had any health problems, adding: “I’ve seen a lot of things in here that shouldn’t be happening, but nothing like this.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Any death in detention is a tragic event and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Mr Okwurime.
“The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance. All deaths in immigration detention are subject to investigation by the police, the coroner and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
It comes after the government rejected widespread calls to end the indefinite detention of immigrants in the UK, claiming a time limit would “severely constrain” the ability to maintain effective immigration control.
Campaigners have long urged ministers to introduce a 28-day limit on how long people can be kept in removal centres, saying the system is severely damaging for the wellbeing of detainees.
In July, former Conservative cabinet ministers attacked the Home Office over its refusal to introduce a time limit on immigration detention, saying locking people up indefinitely was “clearly perverse”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments