Nigerian govt orders closure of Plateau mining site after death of 37 miners

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake,has ordered the immediate sealing of a mining site in Zuraq, Wase LocalGovernment Area of Plateau State, following the death of 37 miners. The directive was announced in a statement issued onWednesday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Chairmanof Wase LGA, Hamisu Anani, confirmed that at least 37 miners died while 25others were hospitalised in the early hours of Tuesday. The victims were reportedly exposed to toxic gaseousemissions while mining at an underground site in Zurak. Alake said the affected area falls under Mining Licence11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China. He explained that the closure was necessary to contain thesituation and allow for a full investigation. He said he had dispatched a team of officials andinvestigators led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Yusuf Yabo, todetermine both the remote and immediate causes of the incident and to recommendappropriate sanctions. According to the minister, the team includes experts inmining, environmental compliance and artisanal cooperatives. He added that heis personally coordinating efforts to ensure effective management of thesituation. “The actions were taken as preliminary reports indicatedthat the company ceded the pit where the incident took place to the communityto mine following agitations by villagers for empowerment,” Alake said. “It was gathered that the area was an abandoned lead sitewith stored minerals prone to emissions of sulphuric oxide. “Unaware of the poisonous nature of the emissions, thevillagers reportedly engaged in extraction while inhaling the gaseoussubstance.” The minister also provided the coordinates of the affectedMining Licence 11810 area, saying it lies between longitudes 10.34.45 and10.35.50 and latitudes 9.13.45 and 9.14.40. Alake assured that further updates would be made availableas investigations continue. He condoled with Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang,describing the tragedy as “an unfortunate incident of death of innocentcitizens trying to earn a living.”

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