Kehinde Fajobi
At least 22 miners are feared dead following the collapse of a mining pit at an illegal site located within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, straddling Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State.
Adamu Jamtare, a miner from Gashaka, shared that many of the victims were from his hometown, Jamtare, according to Daily Trust.
“They were mining gold in an area known as the Buffa zone within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, covering parts of both Gashaka and Toungo. All 22 miners trapped in the pit are presumed dead,” Jamtare said.
The chairman of Toungo LGA, Engineer Suleiman Toungo, confirmed that five bodies had been found but noted uncertainty about the remaining number buried.
He said the accident occurred nearly a month ago and involved miners from various states, including Zamfara and Adamawa.
Despite regular patrols by park rangers, illegal mining persists, often conducted covertly at night.
“Five bodies have been recovered so far,” Engineer Toungo added.
A local resident from Tila village, speaking anonymously, revealed that around 70 miners had lost their lives in similar incidents over the past year, though many of these fatalities went unreported.
Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed two recent cases involving fatalities from pit collapses in the area.
In one case, four miners died, while in another incident, six miners were involved, with two confirmed dead and four injured.
SP Nguroje said the police are working closely with Gumti National Park authorities to apprehend those involved in illegal mining activities.