Tragedy struck in Zamfara State on Thursday night as mining pits collapsed in the Kadauri community of Maru Local Government Area, leaving several artisanal miners feared trapped underground.
The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZSEMA), Bala Ahmad, confirmed the incident on Friday in Gusau. He said he was in a meeting with stakeholders regarding the situation and promised to provide further details later.
Local community leaders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the disaster followed several hours of heavy rainfall, which weakened the pits and caused them to cave in.
Although the exact number of miners affected remains unclear, residents said multiple people were still trapped as rescue efforts continued. Those who sustained injuries have been taken to Maru General Hospital for treatment.
Villagers have since joined forces with emergency officials in the search-and-rescue operation, digging through debris in a desperate bid to save lives.
Mining accidents have become a recurring tragedy in Zamfara, where unregulated artisanal mining is widespread despite repeated government warnings about its dangers.
