In a harrowing turn of events, a mining pit collapse in Galadima-Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State has left 14 miners still trapped, with only six people rescued after two days of the incident.
The fate of the rescued individuals is yet to be confirmed, raising concerns about the potential loss of life in the accident.
The permanent secretary of the Niger State Ministry for Mineral Resources, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni, placed the blame for the collapse squarely on the management of the mining company.
He cited a lack of compliance and synergy between the company and the local community as contributing factors to the tragedy.
Addressing the situation, the state governor had previously ordered the suspension of all mining activities and called for a crackdown on illegal miners in response to mounting security concerns.
“The governor, through the ministry, had issued letters to all the emirates, instructing them accordingly,” warned the permanent secretary, emphasizing that non-compliance would result in penalties.
Furthermore, the ministry released the names of the 14 individuals still trapped in the rubble, intensifying the urgency of the ongoing rescue efforts.
While initial reports by the State Emergency Management Agency indicated 30 trapped individuals, with one casualty and seven severely injured individuals rescued, conflicting accounts from locals suggest that the actual number of trapped miners might be higher than reported.
The challenging rescue operation was further complicated by the lack of necessary equipment, as highlighted by the police public relations officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, of the Niger State command.
