Federal Govt Takes Over Rescue Of Zamfara Mine Collapse Victims

The federal government has taken charge of rescue efforts following the tragic collapse of a mine pit in Kadauri Village, Maru local government area of Zamfara State.

Responding swiftly to incident reports, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) deployed federal mines officers in Zamfara to coordinate the search and rescue operations at the site.

According to Segun Tomori, special assistant on Media to the Minister, Dr Dele Alake, the collapse was triggered by heavy rainfall, worsened by the unlawful activities of illegal miners. At least 15 itinerant miners were trapped beneath the rubble. As of the latest reports, 13 bodies have been recovered, sadly with no survivors, while efforts continue to locate the remaining two.

Alake described the incident as both “avoidable and unfortunate,” expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives.

„I received with deep shock the report of the unfortunate incident in Zamfara, which has unfortunately resulted in some casualties. Our first responders have been mobilised to the site and are working with state government officials on rescue operations, after which the site will be sealed off,“ the Minister stated.

Preliminary investigations by the Ministry reveal that the area, known for its loose sandy terrain and gold traces, was being exploited through unsafe alluvial mining by illegal operators. Once gold was detected, unregulated miners moved in with rudimentary tools, ignoring environmental risks and safety protocols.

To combat illegal mining, the MSMD has intensified enforcement. Dr Alake recalled that over the past year, the Mining Marshals initiative—a dedicated security task force—has led to the arrest of over 300 illegal miners across 10 states and the FCT and the sealing of 98 illegal mining sites. Efforts are ongoing to scale up the marshals‘ presence and logistics nationwide.

Zamfara, however, presents a unique challenge. The region was plagued by banditry and insecurity for years, hampering formal mining operations. The Tinubu administration, through coordinated military operations led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), has since made significant progress in stabilising the area.

In light of these improvements, Dr Alake announced in December 2024 the lifting of the ban on mining activities in Zamfara. Since then, the Federal Government has ramped up security across the North West to facilitate the safe resumption of licensed mining operations.

To further strengthen oversight, the Ministry has begun installing satellite surveillance systems to enable real-time monitoring of mining sites nationwide. This will aid swift responses to emergencies like the Zamfara collapse and deter illegal mining.

While awaiting a comprehensive report from the ongoing investigation into the Kadauri mine collapse, the Minister reiterated the government’s firm stance:

“We will not relent until we rid this country of the nefarious activities of illegal miners. Despite our vast land mass, we remain undaunted. With satellite surveillance and other enforcement measures underway, we aim to reduce mine drastically collapses across the country and tighten the noose around sponsors of illegal mining,” Alake asserted.