The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has directed the immediate shutdown of a mining facility in Zuraq, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, after a tragic incident claimed the lives of 37 miners
The order was conveyed in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
Reports from the News Agency of Nigeria indicate that the Chairman of Wase LGA, Hamisu Anani, confirmed that no fewer than 37 miners lost their lives, while 25 others were rushed to hospital in the early hours of Tuesday following the incident.
The miners were said to have inhaled toxic gases while working at an underground site in Zurak.
Alake disclosed that the location falls within Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China. He said sealing the site became necessary to stabilise the area and pave the way for a comprehensive investigation.
The minister revealed that a high-powered delegation, led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Yusuf Yabo, has been deployed to probe both the immediate and underlying causes of the tragedy and to propose necessary sanctions.
He added that the investigative team comprises specialists in mining operations, environmental compliance and artisanal mining cooperatives, stressing that he is personally overseeing the response to ensure proper handling of the situation.
“The actions were taken as preliminary reports indicated that the company ceded the pit where the incident took place to the community to mine following agitations by villagers for empowerment,” Alake said.
“It was gathered that the area was an abandoned lead site with stored minerals prone to emissions of sulphuric oxide.
“Unaware of the poisonous nature of the emissions, the villagers reportedly engaged in extraction while inhaling the gaseous substance.”
Providing further details, the minister stated that Mining Licence 11810 is situated between longitudes 10.34.45 and 10.35.50 and latitudes 9.13.45 and 9.14.40.
Alake assured that more information would be released as investigations progress. He also extended his condolences to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, describing the tragedy as “an unfortunate incident of death of innocent citizens trying to earn a living.”
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A huge disaster
TRAGIC
Rest in peace. Sad thing