Details of the mine site collapse emerged from an anonymous source who stated, “The pit caved in after torrential rainfall on Sunday, burying several miners underground
Reports indicate that the site manager of the mining company, Ibrahim Ishaku, was among those trapped.
“We also learned that a middle-aged man known simply as Kuta, the chief security officer of the mining company, died while attempting to rescue some of the victims.”
There are conflicting reports on the number of miners trapped and declared dead.
“While villagers were attempting to rescue the trapped miners, another section of the pit collapsed, causing the villagers to flee, leaving the victims to their fate.
“It is suspected that no fewer than 30 miners have been buried underground due to the second collapse,” a source informed Vanguard.
Mallam Hussaini Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Minna yesterday but could not provide exact casualty figures.
The mine site belongs to a company named “African Minerals and Logistics Limited,” and the collapse was attributed to the rainfall that softened the soil.
“Due to the unacceptable nature of the environment caused by banditry, information on the incident, including rescue operations, is still scarce. However, we have confirmed that one person has died, six people have been rescued with severe injuries, and about 30 others, including the site manager Ibrahim Ishaku, remain trapped,” the PRO stated.
As of press time, excavators have been deployed to the scene for rescue operations.
Rescue Operations Ongoing — Alake
Reacting to the incident, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said that his ministry has swiftly mobilized Federal Mines Officers and officials of the Mines Inspectorate to the site, resulting in the rescue of seven victims.
“Upon learning of the incident, we mobilized our Federal Mines Officer (FMO) and officials of the Mines Inspectorate to the site. In collaboration with the mining company, we have rescued seven victims, some with injuries. Rescue operations with excavators are ongoing to avert further loss of lives,” Alake stated.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to investigating the causes of the disaster to prevent future occurrences