Thirty-seven miners are feared dead after 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 and regulatory oversight in the sector.
Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, said he received an early morning alert about the incident. According to him, the miners had dug deep into the ground while mining when they were exposed to a deadly gas, which reportedly killed 37 of them instantly.
Several others were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals, though the exact number of survivors remains uncertain.
Sambo disclosed that the victims were mining zinc for a company believed to be Chinese-owned and operating in the area, although the specific mineral involved has not been officially confirmed.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have since been deployed to the site, cordoning off the area to prevent further access and contain the situation.
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Attempts to get official comments from the Plateau State government were unsuccessful, as calls to the Commissioner for Environment, Peter Gwom, and the Local Government Chairman, Hamisu Anani, were not returned.
The tragedy has renewed public concern over both artisanal and company-backed mining activities in rural communities, where safety measures, environmental monitoring, and emergency response systems are often inadequate.
Residents are urging the Plateau State Government and relevant federal authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, ensure accountability, and enforce stricter safety regulations to prevent future occurrences.