Three people died in a mining pit collapse in Bazakwoi, Niger State, while one person was rescued. This marks the second incident in ten days, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in illegal mining activities. Community efforts successfully recovered all victims, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
Three people were killed in a mining pit collapse on Thursday in Bazakwoi, a village in the Adnun community of Niger State. One individual was rescued alive from the site. The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident and stated that there are no more individuals trapped in the pit, as community efforts successfully retrieved all victims.
This tragic event marks the second such incident in the state within ten days. On June 3, a mining pit collapse in Galkago, Shiroro District, caused by heavy rains, resulted in the deaths of 20 people, with 14 others trapped under the rubble.
The recent collapse involved local miners who were reportedly engaged in illegal mining activities. This incident occurred while Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru, Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, and House of Assembly Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji were in Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj. In their absence, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, is overseeing state affairs.
The back-to-back mining disasters underscore the need for improved safety regulations and enforcement to prevent illegal mining and protect miners' lives.
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