Mining Pit Collapse in Niger State: 6 Rescued, 14 Still Trapped
Six miners have been rescued while 14 remain trapped following a mining pit collapse in Galadima-Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The incident occurred two days ago, and it remains unclear if the rescued individuals are alive or deceased.
Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni, the permanent secretary of the Niger State Ministry for Mineral Resources, blamed the collapse on the mining company's management. During a site visit, Nahauni stated that the tragedy resulted from a lack of compliance and cooperation between the mining company and the local community. He highlighted that the governor had previously suspended all mining activities in the state and ordered a crackdown on illegal mining due to security concerns.
"The governor, through the ministry, had issued letters to all the emirates, instructing them accordingly," Nahauni said, warning that non-compliance would result in penalties. He also urged the site engineer to strictly follow mining principles and operational guidelines to prevent future incidents, emphasizing that safety must always be prioritized.
The names of the 14 miners still trapped are Abdullahi Yahaya, Ibrahim Mansir, Abubakar Isah, Friday Musa, Godwin Hussaini, Benjamin Ashafa, Zayyanu Ibrahim, Abdul Ali, Hamza Musa, Umar Abubakar, Joseph Madaki, Ibrahim I. Ishiaku Kuta, Abbas Musa, and Yakubu Mamman.
While the State Emergency Management Agency initially reported that 30 people were trapped, with one person killed and seven others severely injured, local sources suggest that the actual number of trapped miners may be higher than official figures. The police public relations officer for Niger State, SP Wasiu Abiodun, cited a lack of equipment as a significant obstacle in the ongoing rescue efforts.
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