An unconfirmed number of miners have reportedly died following suspected exposure to toxic gas at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, raising fresh concerns about safety standards in the sector.
The Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, said he was alerted to the incident early in the morning due to his position in the community.
“It happened at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government. We got information that the miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly,” Sambo said in a telephone interview.
He added that several others were rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, though the exact number of survivors had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
According to Sambo, the victims were reportedly mining zinc for a company believed to be Chinese-owned and operating in the area. The specific mineral involved, however, has not been officially verified.
In response to the incident, troops of the Nigerian Army were deployed to the site and have since cordoned off the area to prevent further access and possible exposure.
“The army has since gone there and cordoned off the place to stop people from having access and also to stop the spread,” Sambo said.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Plateau State Government were unsuccessful. Calls placed to the Commissioner for Environment, Peter Gwom, and the Chairman of Wase Local Government Area, Hamisu Anani, were not answered as of press time.
The tragic incident has reignited public concern over artisanal and company-backed mining activities in rural communities, where safety compliance, environmental oversight, and emergency response systems are often inadequate.
Residents have called on the Plateau State Government and relevant federal agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, ensure accountability, and enforce stricter safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.
