The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has officially confirmed that 13 miners lost their lives in the recent gold mine pit collapse in Jabaka village, Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State, rejecting earlier reports suggesting over 100 casualties.
In a statement released on Sunday, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Dele Alake, stated that the tragedy occurred after heavy rainfall weakened the pit structure, which was further compromised by illegal mining activities. According to the ministry, at least 15 miners were trapped when the collapse happened. Rescue teams have recovered 13 bodies so far, with two miners still missing. Authorities continue efforts to reach those remaining.
Minister Alake described the incident as preventable, noting that illegal miners had brought workers to the site using makeshift tools after discovering gold deposits. The minister emphasized that these workers were exposed to serious environmental and safety hazards, putting their lives at extreme risk.
The Federal Government pledged to intensify its crackdown on illegal mining through advanced satellite monitoring and stricter law enforcement. “We will not relent until we rid this country of the nefarious activities of illegal miners,” Alake stated firmly.
The ministry also announced that a full investigation into the collapse is underway to understand the circumstances leading to the tragedy and to prevent future incidents. Meanwhile, authorities reaffirmed their zero-tolerance stance on illegal mining, highlighting the ongoing risks posed to communities and workers by unregulated mining operations.
The Zamfara mine collapse continues to cast a shadow over the region, drawing attention to the urgent need for stronger oversight and enforcement in Nigeria’s mining sector.
