The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called for an immediate enforcement of rigorous safety protocols across Nigeria’s mining sector following the tragic death of 35 artisanal miners at a site in the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. The victims reportedly succumbed to toxic gas inhalation while working in an underground tunnel in the Kampani Zurak community earlier this week.
Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing the loss of young lives as a preventable national tragedy. In an official statement, Issa-Onilu urged mining operators and regulatory bodies to prioritise human life over economic gain, noting that the agency would intensify its sensitisation efforts to educate local communities on the dangers of unregulated mining activities. He emphasised that strict adherence to the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act is no longer optional but a matter of life and death.
The disaster occurred at a site reportedly managed by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited. Preliminary investigations suggest that the miners were trapped in a deep pit where a buildup of carbon monoxide and other hazardous fumes led to rapid asphyxiation. Survivors rescued from the scene remain under medical observation at various healthcare facilities in Wase and neighbouring communities, with several still in critical condition.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has since ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident. The ministry confirmed that the specific mining lease has been suspended pending the outcome of a forensic audit of the site’s safety infrastructure.