Written by Joyce Nzomo
A major tragedy struck Zamfara State after a gold mining pit caved in at the Kadauri site in Maru Local Government Area, leaving more than 100 miners feared dead.
The collapse occurred on Thursday while dozens of artisanal miners were underground in search of gold. Rescue efforts extended into Friday, with locals joining in desperate attempts to save survivors.
At least 13 bodies have been recovered, including that of a rescuer’s relative, while only 15 people have so far been pulled out alive, according to residents. “We are lucky to be rescued alive. Out of more than 100 people, only 15 of us were rescued,” said survivor Isa Sani, who is receiving treatment for injuries.
Officials from the Zamfara State Miners Association confirmed the incident, warning that
some rescuers also lost their lives due to suffocation as they dug through rubble to
reach trapped victims.
Police in the state have not yet issued a statement on the disaster.
Illegal mining is rampant in Zamfara, often controlled by armed groups that profit from gold extraction. Authorities say this has fueled both insecurity and unsafe mining practices, leading to frequent accidents.
Rescue operations were still underway as of Friday evening, though hopes of finding more survivors continued to fade.
Courtesy of Reuters
