‘Five women’ dead as mining site collapses in Niger state

At least five women have reportedly been killed after an illegal mining site in Paikoro LGA of Niger state collapsed on Tuesday.

According to Zagazola Makama, counter-insurgency expert, the incident occurred at about 6:30 pm on Monday at Budu village, when the illegal mining pit caved in and trapped the victims.

The victims were identified as Tani Abubakar, who was pregnant, Farida Mustapha, Farida Sule, Khadijat Abdullahi, and Zainab Usman.

“Security operatives visited the scene, where the victims were exhumed and rushed to the General Hospital, Paiko,” Makama quoted a source as saying.

“Sadly, they were confirmed dead on arrival. Their corpses have been deposited at the hospital for autopsy.”

The source added that investigations were ongoing, and warning residents against illegal mining activities that endanger lives.

Mining accidents are becoming a recurring decimal in resource-rich Nigeria.

In November 2024, at least 13 persons were reported dead after a mining site collapsed in Bassa LGA of Plateau state. Majority of the victims were said to be aged 18 and 30.

Months before, a mining site collapsed in Niger state following a downpour while two people were killed and 77 injured in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, due to the activities of “illegal miners”.