The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZSEMA), Bala Ahmad, on Friday confirmed the collapse of mining pits that trapped several artisanal miners in Kadauri community, Maru Local Government Area of the state.
Mr. Ahmad, who disclosed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau, said the tragedy occurred on Thursday night.
He, however, noted that he was still in a meeting with stakeholders and promised to provide further details in due course.
Local community leaders told NAN by telephone that the pits caved in after several hours of heavy rainfall in the area, leaving an unspecified number of miners trapped.
According to them, the exact number of casualties is yet to be determined. Some of those rescued with injuries are receiving treatment at the Maru General Hospital, while efforts are ongoing to save others still trapped underground.
Community volunteers and state emergency officials are reportedly working side by side in the rescue operation.
The Kadauri collapse is the latest in a series of accidents linked to unsafe artisanal mining activities in Zamfara, where thousands of residents rely on informal gold mining for their livelihoods despite the high risks.
