Niger state mine collapse: 14 miners still trapped under rock – Police

The Niger State Police Command reports that at least 14 miners are still buried beneath the debris of a mining pit that collapsed in Galkogo hamlet, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.

Remember how the African Minerals and Logistics Limited-owned mining site collapsed after a significant downpour, trapping roughly fifty workers?

One miner lost their life in the Sunday night incident, while six others suffered critical injuries.

All six miners made it out alive. Authorities from the police and government are actively participating in the continuing rescue operations.

To supervise the rescue operations, Commissioner of Police Shawulu Danmamman, Commissioner of Homeland Security Bello Mohammed, and Commissioner of Mineral Resources Garba Yahaya visited the location.

According to the police command, six of the original 20 people who were trapped have already been rescued, leaving 14 people missing.

The Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, gave information about the current rescue effort.

“The Commissioner of Police, along with the Commissioners of Homeland Security and Mineral Resources, visited the mining site incident,” he stated.

When they got to the scene at around 1200 hours, the engineer on the scene verified that six of the twenty people who were trapped under the rock had been rescued. There are still fourteen people under the rock. The site engineers and rescue crew are currently working to free the other victims.

Mallam Aliyu Umar, the district head of the area, confirmed the number of people trapped and thanked the police and local authorities for their bravery since the event, according to Abiodun.

According to him, the commissioner of minerals resources sent the state’s condolences to the impacted people and voiced its shock at the tragedy.

The CP also reminded them that although mining has been outlawed by the state government, people continue to engage in the industry. He issued a warning to the people not to commit such crimes, Abiodun continued.