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SPOTLIGHTS
- 3 illegal miners killed in Niger mine collapse
- FG vows to revoke licenses of land units mined illegally
- Ministry investigating the incident
- Company owners summoned for questioning
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The federal government has vowed to revoke the licenses of land units mined by illegal miners. This decision follows another mine collapse in Niger State, which claimed the lives of three individuals.
Dr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the collapsed mine was located within the Exploration Licence 43113 area of JURASSIC MINES Limited in Adunu Village, Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State.
It is important to note that an exploration licence grants an applicant the right to confirm the suitability of a site for proposed mineral exploration. It does not authorize the applicant to engage in mining activities.
Upon reviewing the Ministry’s role in response to the incident, Alake noted that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development received reports of the accident around 4:45 pm on Thursday. These reports indicated that three individuals had died when a tunnel collapsed on them while they were mining gold at the site.
Read also: Senate seeks investigation into death of 30 miners in Niger
Further inquiry revealed that the miners were engaged in illegal mining activities. The Ministry promptly mobilized its mine officers and proceeded to the area, arriving at the site around 6:15 pm.
Officials were informed that three men had been killed in the accident and had since been buried.
“At the time of the visit, work had stopped at the site, and only onlookers were present. The coordinates of the site were recorded, and officials returned to Minna around 8:30 pm. The owners of the company were contacted by phone, but they claimed ignorance of the happenings at the site. They were subsequently summoned to the office in the state capital,” Alake stated.
The minister pledged to provide further updates as the situation develops.
