AN unconfirmed number of miners, reportedly up to 37, have died following suspected exposure to toxic gas at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau state.
News Point Nigeria reports that the tragic incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, has sparked renewed concerns over unsafe mining practices and weak regulatory oversight in rural communities.
The Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, who first made the incident public, said he received a distress call 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 during a telephone interview.
According to him, several other miners were rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. However, the exact number of those hospitalised remains unclear as of press time.
Sambo disclosed that the affected youths were mining zinc on behalf of a company believed to be a Chinese-owned mining firm operating in the area. The specific mineral being extracted at the time of the incident has not been officially confirmed.
The development has intensified scrutiny of both artisanal and company-backed mining operations across Wase, where reports of unsafe excavation practices have surfaced in the past.
Following the incident, troops were deployed to the scene.
According to Sambo, the soldiers cordoned off the mining site to prevent further access and potential exposure to hazardous substances.
“The army has since gone there and cordoned off the place to stop people from having access and also to stop the spread,” he said.
Residents described the atmosphere in Company Zurak as tense, with grieving families gathering near the affected area while awaiting official confirmation of casualties.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official reaction from the state government were unsuccessful.
Multiple calls placed to the Plateau State Commissioner for Environment, Peter Gwom, and the Chairman of Wase Local Government Area, Hamisu Anani, were neither answered nor returned.
The silence from authorities has further heightened public anxiety and anger, with residents demanding transparency and swift intervention.
Community leaders and civil society groups are now calling on the Plateau State Government and relevant federal agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the incident, establish accountability, and enforce stricter safety protocols.
Many residents insist that unless urgent reforms are implemented, similar disasters may continue to claim lives in mineral-rich communities across the state.