The Zamfara State government has confirmed that only 10 persons died in the mine pit collapse in Maru local government area of the state on Thursday.
Special assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal on media and communications Mustafa Kaura said the state’s ministry of environment had visited the site where the incident occurred where 10 dead bodies were evacuated and one person was rescued alive.
Kaura said the state government had condoled families of those who died in the incident, and urged the federal government to take serious action on the illegal miners.
He said illegal miners had taken over all mining sites in the state, adding that unless something was done to check it, the state would face more calamities in future.
He added that many mining pits would collapse due to excessive rainfall being experienced in the state.
Kaura also added that banditry activities would also increase because of the influx of miners coming to the state from both within and outside the country.
