KEY POINTS
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Thirteen miners died in the Zamfara mining pit collapse.
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Survivors described escaping moments before the ground caved in.
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Rescue efforts continue as dozens remain trapped underground.
Thirteen miners were confirmed dead after a gold mining pit collapsed in Kadauri village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, leaving many others trapped underground. The accident, which occurred on Thursday, has thrown the community into mourning as residents and fellow miners continue rescue efforts.
Rescue efforts after mining pit collapse
Survivors described harrowing moments before the collapse. One of them, Sani Hassan, said he narrowly escaped when he left the pit to fetch water. “Just a few minutes after I stepped out, the mining pit collapsed while many of my colleagues were still inside,” he said. Hassan added that more than 30 people were working in the pit at the time. Eleven bodies were evacuated immediately, with others still missing.
Residents rushed to the site with makeshift tools to try and rescue those trapped underground. Local miner Sanusi Auwal, who lost a cousin in the accident, confirmed that at least 13 bodies had been retrieved by late Friday. He said more than 100 people were inside the pit when the collapse occurred.
Isa Sani, another survivor who is receiving treatment for injuries, said only 15 people were rescued alive. “We are lucky to survive. Many of our friends remain underground,” he added.
Zamfara miners face rising dangers
According to Punch, officials of the Zamfara State Miners Association acknowledged the disaster and confirmed the scale of fatalities. Muhammadu Isa, a senior association member, said the tragedy underscored the dangers artisanal miners face in the region. The state police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comment despite repeated calls.
Illegal and unregulated mining is widespread in Zamfara, a state that has long grappled with banditry and resource exploitation. Frequent accidents expose the risks miners take daily in search of gold, often without safety gear or professional oversight. Thursday’s collapse adds to a growing toll of lives lost in Nigeria’s mining communities, where profit often outweighs safety.
