Following reports that approximately 37 villagers perished from breathing in hazardous gases during artisanal mining operations, the Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of a mining site in Plateau State. 25 further people were admitted to the hospital following exposure to suspected carbon monoxide at the mining site in Zurak, which is situated in the Wase Local Government Area, according to a post made on Wednesday by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X.
The investigation states that the fatalities, who were primarily young males between the ages of 20 and 35, were performing standard underground mining activities when they breathed in hazardous fumes that were thought to have built up in poorly ventilated tunnels.
The tragedy in the Zurak hamlet in Wase LGA prompted Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake to order the suspension of all operations under Mining Licence 11810, which is run by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited.
Abdullahi Dan-China owns the license, which is located between latitudes 9°13'45 "and 9°14'40" and longitudes 10°34'45 "and 10°35'50".
In an Abuja statement released on Wednesday, the Special Assistant on Media informed the minister, Segun Tomori, of the directions.
According to Tomori, the minister was paying Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang a condolence call during which he conveyed his profound sadness over the deaths and referred to the dead as "innocent citizens trying to earn a living."
According to the statement, "a team of officials and investigators has been dispatched by the minister to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident and recommend appropriate sanctions."
Experts in mining, environmental compliance, and artisanal cooperatives are also part of the team. To guarantee efficient handling of the issue, the minister is organizing the team and support services.
According to officials, as investigations continue, the Federal Government will make more disclosures.
According to preliminary results, the firm allegedly abandoned the hole in the host community after residents protested for empowerment and economic prospects.
According to the information acquired, the region was an abandoned lead mining site with mineral reserves that were prone to sulfuric oxide gas emissions.
The deadly tragedy is said to have occurred because the locals, who were unaware of the site's toxic nature, carried out manual extraction while breathing in the toxic fumes.
The incident brings to light the rising dangers of abandoned mining pits throughout Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where people are compelled to engage in informal mining due to financial difficulties and a lack of knowledge about safety precautions.
With specialists warning of exposure to heavy metals, toxic gases, and contaminated water, abandoned mining sites in areas of the Plateau, Zamfara, and Niger states have become a threat to the environment and public health over time.
Under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria's mining sector has received renewed government attention, leading to increased efforts to formalize artisanal mining, enforce environmental compliance, and draw in international investment.
The most recent event, however, indicates that there may still be weaknesses in the oversight of host communities and the implementation of my closure and rehabilitation requirements.
After operations, licensed operators do not completely reclaim the areas, leaving dangerous pits that local populations subsequently use for informal purposes.
The government has started projects in recent months to improve environmental and safety control and include artisanal miners in cooperatives.
Alake has frequently cautioned that dangerous mining methods and illicit mining endanger not only lives but also Nigeria's attempts to establish a mining sector that is competitive on a global scale.
Reforms in environmental cleanup, community involvement, and abandoned mine management may be accelerated by the Plateau tragedy.