The efforts to locate approximately 20 miners trapped in Nigeria have become increasingly urgent as concerns grow that they may not survive following their entrapment for four days in a collapsed pit.
The mine collapsed on Monday in central Niger State after heavy rains, resulting in the tragic loss of at least one life and leaving six individuals with severe injuries. Ibrahim Audu Husseini, the spokesperson for the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has indicated that the rescue operation has proven to be more challenging than anticipated.
Due to the lack of equipment at the remote site, workers have been forced to use chisels and hammers in their attempts to reach the trapped miners. Husseini has expressed apprehension about the chances of the miners’ survival, particularly due to the intensified foul odour emitted by the seeping water from the pit.
While the exact number of miners trapped remains ambiguous due to conflicting reports from officials, SEMA has confirmed that the government lacks the necessary equipment for an effective rescue operation. The heavy rains resulted in boulders covering the mine, further complicating the process.
Husseini has clarified that the use of dynamite to break the rock apart, a traditional approach in such circumstances, has been ruled out to ensure the safety of those trapped. The recent tragic incident has cast a spotlight on the difficulties and dangers faced by miners in this region, where minerals such as gold, tantalite, and lithium are mined.
The Shiroro district, where the mine collapse occurred, is one of several areas in Niger State that have been plagued by banditry. These armed groups routinely raid remote villages, engaging in looting and kidnapping residents for ransom. Recently, six individuals were kidnapped in the area, with an additional 20 abductions nearby, as reported by SEMA.
Last year, the Niger State government imposed a ban on mining activities in Shiroro and other districts due to security and safety concerns. However, artisanal miners have continued to operate amidst ongoing insecurity, driven by the need to provide for themselves and their families after being displaced from their homes and farms.
The race against time to rescue the trapped miners persists, as local communities and authorities grapple with the aftermath of this devastating incident. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the perilous conditions faced by miners in Nigeria, compounded by the looming threat of banditry in the region.