At least 13 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more are feared trapped following the Zamfara mining pit collapse in Kadauri village, located in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The tragic incident, which occurred on Thursday, has left the community in shock and mourning, while frantic rescue efforts continue at the scene.
Eyewitness accounts and local officials have revealed that over 100 miners were working inside the pit when it suddenly gave way, burying workers under tons of earth and debris.
Zamfara Mining Pit Collapse Sparks Rescue Mission and Grief
Sani Hassan, one of the survivors of the Zamfara mining pit collapse, recounted his narrow escape. According to Hassan, he had been digging for gold when he stepped out briefly to get water. That decision ultimately saved his life.
“Just a few minutes after I came out of the mining pit, it suddenly collapsed while many of my colleagues were still inside,” he told Saturday PUNCH.
Hassan said the scene was one of chaos and heartbreak as other miners rushed to help dig out those who had been trapped.
“There were more than 30 persons inside when the collapse happened. Eleven dead bodies were evacuated at first, and many more are still buried under the rubble,” he added.
Another local resident involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, Sanusi Auwal, told Reuters that at least 13 bodies had been retrieved so far, including that of his cousin.
“Over 100 miners were inside when the collapse happened. We’re lucky to be alive,” Auwal said.
Isa Sani, another injured survivor currently receiving medical treatment, echoed similar sentiments.
“Only 15 of us were rescued out of more than 100 people. The rest are still down there.”
An official of the Zamfara State Miners Association, Muhammadu Isa, confirmed the incident to news agencies on Friday. He said that efforts were still ongoing to retrieve the bodies and potentially rescue any miners who might still be alive beneath the rubble.
As of Friday evening, the spokesperson for the Zamfara Mining State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, had not responded to repeated calls for comment.
Local sources say rescue operations are being hampered by a lack of equipment and trained emergency personnel. Most of the digging is being done manually by fellow miners and local residents, increasing the risks for both rescuers and those still trapped underground.
Illegal Mining Activities in Zamfara: A Deadly Industry
The Zamfara mining pit collapse is just the latest in a series of tragic incidents linked to unsafe and unregulated mining activities in the region. Zamfara State is rich in gold and other precious minerals, which has made it a hotspot for artisanal and small-scale mining.
However, these mining operations are often carried out without proper safety protocols, regulatory oversight, or equipment, putting thousands of workers at constant risk.
Over the years, mining-related tragedies have claimed hundreds of lives in Zamfara, particularly due to cave-ins, landslides, and exposure to toxic substances such as lead and mercury.
While the government has made efforts to formalize and regulate mining operations, enforcement remains weak, and illegal mining continues to thrive—fuelled by poverty, unemployment, and a lack of alternative economic opportunities.
The latest Zamfara mining pit collapse has reignited calls for government intervention in the region’s mining sector. Residents and civil society groups are demanding that authorities take immediate steps to regulate mining, improve safety standards, and provide emergency response infrastructure.
“How many more lives must be lost before something is done?” asked one resident who participated in the rescue operation. “We need government presence here, not just when tragedy strikes.”
Many believe that with better oversight, training, and equipment, such tragedies could be prevented. Until then, mining in Zamfara remains a high-risk activity—often with fatal consequences.
As rescue efforts continue into the weekend, families of the missing miners are keeping vigil near the collapsed site, hoping for a miracle. Others have already begun preparing for burial rites, as more bodies are expected to be pulled from the rubble in the coming days.
With no clear tally of how many miners were underground at the time of the collapse, the death toll may rise significantly. What is certain, however, is that the Zamfara mining pit collapse has once again exposed the dangerous realities of informal mining operations in Nigeria.
Until concrete measures are taken to regulate and secure these activities, tragedies like this may continue to haunt the communities of Zamfara Mining and beyond.
Source- Punchng
