Zamfara Mining Tragedy: Several Miners Feared Trapped After Pits Collapse in Maru LGA
A tragic mining pit collapse in Zamfara’s Maru Local Government Area has left several artisanal miners feared trapped, with rescue efforts ongoing. Read the latest updates on the unfolding situation.
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Zamfara mining accident, Maru LGA tragedy, Kadauri community mining collapse, Nigeria mining news, Zamfara emergency response, artisanal miners Nigeria
A dark cloud has fallen over Kadauri community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State following the tragic collapse of multiple mining pits that left several artisanal miners feared trapped underground.
The incident, which occurred late Thursday night after hours of heavy rainfall, has sparked panic and grief within the local community. Eyewitnesses reported that the rains weakened the already fragile mining pits, causing them to cave in while miners were still working inside.
Confirming the development, the Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), Bala Ahmad, told reporters on Friday that the agency was working with stakeholders to coordinate rescue operations. However, he did not immediately provide casualty figures, stressing that the situation was still evolving.
Meanwhile, local community leaders revealed that several miners sustained injuries and have been taken to Maru General Hospital, while many others remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams, supported by community volunteers, are currently battling to save those believed to be trapped.
This is not the first time Nigeria has witnessed such a tragedy. Barely months ago, a mining site collapsed in Plateau State’s Dura community, leaving four miners dead. Experts have long warned that the country’s unregulated artisanal mining activities pose grave risks due to poor safety standards and environmental hazards.
The Zamfara collapse once again highlights the urgent need for stricter regulation of mining operations, especially in areas where artisanal miners work without adequate equipment or structural safeguards.
For now, families of the trapped miners wait anxiously for news of their loved ones, while emergency officials continue the delicate task of rescue.
🙏 Our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, and the brave rescuers at the scene.
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