About 37 miners are feared dead following a suspected toxic gas exposure at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, in an incident that has reignited concerns over unsafe mining practices in the region.
Shafi Sambo, the Wase Youth Leader, said he received an early-morning alert about the tragedy due to his position in the community.
“It happened at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government. We were informed that miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that instantly killed 37 of them,” Sambo told reporters.
Several others were reportedly rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention, though the exact number of survivors remains unknown.
According to Sambo, the miners were extracting zinc for a company reportedly owned by Chinese investors. The full details of the mineral involved are yet to be confirmed.
In response to the incident, troops of the Nigerian Army were deployed to the site. Sambo said the soldiers cordoned off the area to prevent further access and limit additional exposure.
“The army has secured the site to stop people from entering and to contain any further spread of the gas,” he said.
Attempts to reach officials for comment were unsuccessful. Calls to the Plateau State Commissioner for Environment, Peter Gwom, and the Local Government Chairman, Hamisu Anani, were not answered at the time of reporting.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the risks associated with artisanal and company-backed mining operations in rural areas, where safety measures, environmental oversight, and emergency preparedness are often inadequate.
Local residents are urging the Plateau State Government and federal agencies to carry out a thorough investigation, hold responsible parties accountable, and implement stricter safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.
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