Mining Pit Collapses In Adamawa, Taraba Kills 22 Miners

Twenty two miners have been killed after a mining pit at an illegal mining site located within a national game reserve spanning Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State collapsed.

A miner from Gashaka, Adamu Jamtare, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, explained that many of the deceased were from Jamtare town in Gashaka LGA.

He said, “They were mining gold in an area known as the Buffa zone within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, covering parts of both Gashaka and Toungo. All 22 miners trapped in the pit are presumed dead.”

Chairman of Toungo LGA, Engineer Suleiman Toungo, confirmed that five miners had been found dead but was uncertain of the exact number still buried.

He said the incident, involving miners from various parts of Nigeria, including Zamfara and Adamawa, occurred almost a month ago.

According to him, illegal mining activities are often conducted covertly at night despite the area being patrolled by rangers.

He said, “Five bodies have been recovered so far.”

Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, was said to have confirmed two recent reports of fatalities from pit collapses.

He said in one incident, four miners perished, while in another, six miners were involved, with two confirmed dead and four sustaining injuries.

SP Nguroje stated that the police are collaborating with the Gumti National Park authorities to apprehend the illegal miners involved.