The Federal Government has announced the rescue of seven persons at a collapsed mining site in Galadima Kogo, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the first responders had already been deployed to the scene of the incident. He added that the rescue mission was in collaboration with the mining company.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that 30 people were said to been trapped in the pit. The mining site is been operated by African Minerals and Logistics Ltd.
However, other sources claimed that at least 50 workers are trapped underground the pit.
According to report, the company’s Chief Security Officer, CSO, Ibrahim Ishaku, was among those trapped in the collapsed pit.
The Desk Officer for Mining in Shiroro LGA, Yakubu Garba, said Ishaku was at the scene of the incident on Monday.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that the deceased doubled as site manager of the company.
But the Desk Officer refuted this claim. He reiterated that Ishaku was the CSO. He added that “though he had a lot of influence in the running of the company.”
The report further stated that while manual rescue operation was ongoing, another portion of the mining pit caved in. This, therefore, forced the rescuers to abandon their operations and ran for their lives.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Abdullahi Arah, has stated that the collapse was caused by a downpour which softened the soil.
Speaking on the development, the Minister praised the efforts of the rescue team. He said the swift rescue action was a demonstration of the commitment of the government to mitigate the adverse impact of the incident.
The Minister, however, promised that those still trapped in the rubble would be rescued.
He said, “Upon learning of the incident, we mobilized our Federal Mines Officer (FMO) and officials of the Mines Inspectorate to the site.
“In collaboration with the mining company, we have rescued seven victims, some with injuries. Rescue operations with excavators are ongoing to ensure we avert loss of lives.”
The Minister had recently announced a policy on the mandatory arrangements of remedial measures for mining pits. He said this is as part of the criteria for applying for mining licences.
According to the report, “The move was aimed at minimizing incidents such as the collapse of the mining site in Niger.
It stated that the Minister was actively monitoring the situation at the mining site
The Minister also assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s resolve to investigate the remote causes of the disaster. This is in order to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
Recall that on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Hussaini Ibrahim, gave update on the incident.
He said, “Due to the unacceptable nature of that environment as a result of banditry, the information of the incident is very scanty. And this is including the rescue operations.”
He, however, disclosed that excavators had been deployed to the scene for the rescue operations.
Ibrahim also added that bandits had attacked two areas in the State on Sunday night.
According to him, “the bandits kidnapped six persons in Adogo Mallam village in Mashegun Local Government Area. And at least 20 people in Tunga Kawo village in Erena ward of Shiroro Local Government Area.
Ibrahim added that hundreds of cows were also rustled by the bandits.
source: Premium Times
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