KGO KADAGE, Nigeria – A tragic incident unfolded in Bauchi State, Nigeria, as four illegal miners died in a mining site collapse in Kogo Kadage village, Yadagungume area of the Ningi Local Government Area.
The incident reportedly occurred late on Saturday, August 5, 2023, when the miners were excavating lead.
The source, who requested anonymity, revealed that people had been mining at the site for over a month.
Suddenly, one of the holes they dug gave way, burying the miners.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ningi LGA, Ibrahim Zubairu, described the incident as sorrowful and tragic.
According to Zubairu, the four miners were trapped in the pit, three of whom died immediately.
The illegal mining site is situated in the Kogo Kadage forest, approximately seven kilometers from Yadagungume town.
“Yesterday (Saturday), I was informed that four people were trapped in a mining pit, and I directed a rescue operation. They later reported to me that they recovered three bodies,” Zubairu said.
The chairman seemed taken aback by the incident as he stated, “I don’t know about the illegal activities of the locals because we have banned all sorts of illegal mining in the entire local government area. It came to me as a surprise when I got the report of the incident.”
To combat such illicit activities, Zubairu stated he has formed a committee responsible for monitoring illegal mining activities and land-related issues.
He also directed the Burra Divisional Police Officer to investigate illegal mining sites in the area.
Zubairu sent out a stern warning for people to stop illegal mining activities, emphasizing that the government would not show leniency to anyone caught violating this rule.
He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
During a plenary session, Musa Nakwada, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, informed that two women died after a mining pit collapsed in Bar Kudu, Bogoro Local Government Area.
He added that three other women sustained various degrees of injuries.
