By Shittu Oluwadamilola
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of a mining site in Plateau State following the death of 37 villagers who reportedly inhaled toxic gases during artisanal mining activities.
According to reports, 25 others were hospitalised after exposure to suspected carbon monoxide at the site in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area.
The victims—mostly young men aged between 20 and 35—were said to have been carrying out routine underground mining operations when they inhaled toxic gases believed to have accumulated in poorly ventilated tunnels.
In response to the incident, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, directed the suspension of all activities within Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, following the tragedy in Zurak community.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake.
The licence, owned by Abdullahi Dan-China, is located between longitudes 10.34.45 and 10.35.50 and latitudes 9.13.45 and 9.14.40.
The directive was conveyed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
Alake, during a condolence call to the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, describing the victims as innocent citizens seeking a livelihood.
He urged the governor to convey the Federal Government’s solidarity to the affected community in Wase.
“The minister sympathised with the governor over the loss of innocent citizens who died while trying to earn a living and urged him to convey his deep sorrow and solidarity with the people of Wase over the irreparable loss,” the statement read.
The minister also dispatched a high-level investigative team led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Yusuf Yabo, to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident and recommend appropriate sanctions.
The team includes experts in mining operations, environmental compliance, and artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives.
Officials said further details would be made public as investigations progress.
Preliminary findings indicate that the company allegedly ceded the abandoned pit to the host community following agitation by residents seeking economic opportunities.
The site, reportedly an abandoned lead mine, contains mineral deposits prone to sulphuric oxide emissions. Unaware of the associated risks, villagers engaged in manual extraction and were exposed to the toxic fumes, resulting in the fatalities.
The incident underscores the dangers posed by abandoned mining pits across Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where economic hardship drives informal mining activities without adequate safety safeguards.
Experts have long warned that neglected mining sites in Plateau, Zamfara and Niger states present serious environmental and public health hazards, including exposure to heavy metals, toxic gases and contaminated water sources.
While the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has intensified efforts to formalise artisanal mining, enforce environmental compliance and strengthen sector regulation, the latest tragedy highlights persistent gaps in site rehabilitation, community monitoring and mine-closure enforcement.
Industry stakeholders say the Plateau incident may hasten reforms in abandoned mine management, environmental remediation and community engagement to prevent future occurrences.
