At least three small-scale miners lost their lives, and 11 others sustained injuries following the collapse of a mining pit in Dan Kamfani, Anka Local Government of Zamfara State.
An anonymous eyewitness, employed in the vicinity, disclosed to Channels Television on Saturday that the incident transpired at approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The observer emphasized the challenge of confirming the exact number of casualties due to the collapse of the mining pit, which measured 275 meters in depth.
Furthermore, it was noted that all the deceased individuals hail from the Yar Tsabaya district in Anka LGA.
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He said, “The mining collapsed a few minutes to 4 p.m. on Thursday; we don’t know the exact number of people inside the mining pit, but three dead bodies were recovered, and 11 others are seriously wounded.
“The three people who died are from the Yar Tsabaya district of Anka Local Government. Up till now, we don’t have the actual figure of people inside, and we cannot confirm the number of people because the mining pit is about 275 metres deep.”
He mentioned that the wounded individuals are presently undergoing medical care at Anka General Hospital. Zamfara boasts abundant solid minerals, including gold, iron ore, limestone, and granite.
Illicit mining in Zamfara State has, over time, contributed to the rise of banditry and various criminal endeavors.
On September 23, Governor Dauda Lawal implemented a prohibition on unauthorized mining activities, instructing law enforcement authorities to take decisive measures against offenders, as reported by PUNCH.