FG Seals Plateau Mining Site After Toxic Gas Claims 37 Lives
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of a mining site in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, following a devastating tragedy that claimed the lives of at least 37 artisanal miners and left 26 others hospitalized.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, directed the sealing of the areas under Mining Licence 11810, which is operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China.
The drastic measure comes in the wake of Wednesday’s deadly incident, where victims inhaled a lethal cocktail of toxic gases in a poorly ventilated underground pit at the abandoned lead site.
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, the minister’s spokesperson, preliminary reports revealed that the company had ceded the pit to the locals following community demands for empowerment.
The victims, predominantly young people aged between 20 and 35, entered the confined space completely oblivious to the lethal hazards.
Tomori explained that the miners were “unaware of the residual minerals’ propensity to emit poisonous gases,” which ultimately led to “rapid suffocation” after they inhaled dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and lead oxide.
The Plateau State Police Command responded swiftly to the early-morning disaster, arriving at the scene around 6 a.m. Authorities immediately cordoned off the area and deployed tactical teams, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts, to secure the site.
The police collected samples of rock, soil, and minerals for thorough forensic analysis. Investigators confirmed that there was no evidence of an explosion or explosive devices, attributing the deaths solely to the sudden and massive discharge of toxic gas.
Following the tragedy, Minister Dele Alake paid a condolence visit to the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.
During the visit, the minister conveyed the federal government’s deep sorrow and solidarity with the people of Wase over what he described as the “irreparable loss” of young citizens who were simply seeking their livelihoods.
