From John Adams, Minna
Barely one year after a mining pit collapsed in Galkogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, killing over eight miners, another mining pit said to belong to the same mining company, African Minerals and Logistics Limited, has collapsed, killing four people.
The mining pit that collapsed on Saturday last week also left two miners critically injured and they are receiving treatment at a government health facility in Minna, the state capital.
In April 2024, tragedy struck at the same mining site, where over 50 miners were trapped in a pit.
While some of them were rescued, eight were killed as all efforts to save them failed.
A source close to Galkogo community told our correspondent that despite the government ban on illegal mining in the state after the death of eight miners, the illegal activities have continued unabated.
“This mining site (Galkogo) was closed down by the government after the death of the miners last year but we don’t know who asked them to resume operation.
“This latest incident has again claimed the lives of four young men in the community, and, as I speak with you, there are mining activities going on in other parts of the community.
“Because of the economic situation, our boys continue to troop there for illegal activities. This is the third time now that a mining pit is collapsing and killing our boys,” the source said.
Shiroro LGA plays host to the highest number of illegal miners in the state and this has been responsible for the growing insecurity in the area.
Confirming the latest incident, the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement in Minna on Tuesday, said the latest incident claimed only two lives: “Information was received that there was a collapse/slide at a mining site at Farin Doki, Shiroro LGA. During the rock slides, two persons were trapped who were later identified as Buhari Kano and Mallam Tasiu, both of Kano State.”
He disclosed that police attached to Erena Division and community members mobilised to the scene for a rescue, adding that “unfortunately, suspected lifeless bodies of the two persons were recovered. The bodies were taken to a hospital in Zumba.”
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were suspected to have gone to the site at night for illegal mining activities, before the rock slides occurred. The incident is still under investigation.