At least 10 people have lost their lives and five others were injured following the collapse of an illegal mining site in Kadauri village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Local sources said the incident occurred after days of heavy rainfall weakened the soil, causing the site to cave in. Rescuers have so far recovered ten bodies from the rubble, while the injured have been taken to a nearby health facility for treatment.
“There are fears the death toll may rise as search and recovery operations are still ongoing,” one source told reporters.
Authorities confirmed that all victims were engaged in illegal mining activities. Community members blamed the tragedy on the failure of miners and their handlers to implement basic safety measures despite the risky conditions.
The Kadauri area, already plagued by banditry and criminal activities, is considered one of the hotbeds of illegal mining in Zamfara State.
This latest tragedy comes amid growing concerns over the safety of mining operations in the region. Earlier this week, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris condemned what he described as the “slave-like” treatment of residents at the Marrarabar Yauri gold mining site. His remarks followed violent clashes between foreign and local miners that left one person dead and several properties destroyed.
The clashes sparked retaliation by the victim’s relatives, leading to more violence, vandalism of shops, and the burning of motorcycles. The Yauri Local Government Council has since imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew to restore calm, with security operatives increasing patrols to prevent further unrest.
