Tragedy struck again in Niger State as another mine collapsed, this time in Bazakwoi, Adunu Community, Paikoro Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, claimed the lives of three miners and left one person injured.
This comes nearly two weeks after the Shiroro mine collapse that swallowed over 50 miners, with efforts still ongoing to rescue those trapped. The state Ministry of Mineral Resources expressed dismay over the lack of assistance from multinational rescue firms in the Shiroro rescue operation.
Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the Bazakwoi incident, stating that no one was trapped, and thus, there was no need for a rescue operation. He revealed that efforts to rescue miners at the Shiroro mine were still ongoing.
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A committee assessing the African Minerals and Logistics Limited, owners of the Shiroro mine, reported the absence of multinational rescue teams at the site. The company, with the support of the Niger State Ministry of Mineral Resources, is managing the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, families of the trapped miners in Shiroro have conducted prayers for their relatives, believing they may have died. The rescue effort is being conducted manually, with artisanal miners assisting in digging the site.
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The Niger State government continues to monitor both rescue operations closely, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures in mining activities to prevent such tragedies in the future.
