An unconfirmed number of miners are feared dead following a suspected toxic gas exposure at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase of Plateau State, raising renewed concerns about safety standards in mining operations.
Local youth leader Shafi Sambo said he received an early morning alert about the incident, which reportedly occurred after miners dug deep into the ground and encountered a lethal gas.
“We got information that the miners were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly,” Sambo said during a telephone interview.
He added that several other miners were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment, although the number of survivors had not been confirmed as of press time.
According to Sambo, the victims were mining zinc on behalf of a company believed to be a Chinese-owned mining firm operating in the area.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact mineral involved.
Security Response
Following the incident, personnel of the Nigerian Army were deployed to the site and reportedly cordoned off the area to prevent further access and possible exposure.
“The army has gone there and sealed the area to stop people from entering and to control the situation,” he said.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the state authorities were unsuccessful. Calls to Plateau State Commissioner for Environment Peter Gwom and the local government chairman, Hamisu Anani, were not answered.
The incident has intensified public concern over both artisanal and company-backed mining activities in rural communities, where safety oversight, environmental safeguards, and emergency preparedness are often limited.
Residents are calling on the Plateau State Government and federal regulatory agencies to launch a thorough investigation, ensure accountability, and enforce stricter safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.
