THE Federal Government has sent a team of federal mines officers to Zamfara State to coordinate rescue efforts following the collapse of a mine pit in Kadauri Village, Maru Local Government Area.
In a statement issued by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, the ministry said the tragedy was caused by heavy rainfall and worsened by illegal mining activities in the area.
At least 15 miners were trapped when the pit caved in, with 13 bodies already recovered. Rescue operations are still ongoing to locate the remaining two victims.
Minister Alake described the incident as both “avoidable and unfortunate,” stressing that the ministry’s departments had been mobilised to aid operations and investigate the circumstances that led to the collapse.
Preliminary findings revealed that the terrain, made up of loose sand with traces of gold, attracted illegal miners who recruited itinerant workers using crude tools without regard for safety measures.
The minister recalled that over a year ago, the Federal Government launched the Mining Marshals, a security initiative that has so far arrested more than 300 illegal miners across 10 states and the FCT, and sealed off 98 illegal mining sites.
While progress has been made, the ministry acknowledged that Zamfara presents unique challenges due to its history of banditry.
However, it noted that ongoing military clearance operations under the National Security Adviser had improved security in the state, leading to the lifting of a ban on exploration in December 2024.
The government assured that efforts are being intensified to expand security presence and restore safe, regulated mining operations across Zamfara and the wider North-West region.