Rescue attempts for approximately 30 artisanal miners trapped in a collapsed mining pit in Niger state, Nigeria, have faced hindrances due to threats from armed bandits, revealed an emergency official on Wednesday, June 5, as reported by local media.
The miners, employed by a local company, were working in a vast pit in the village of Galkogo, located in the Shiroro district, when the incident occurred late Sunday, leaving them trapped inside, stated Abdullahi Baba Ara, head of the Niger State Relief Agency.
“Our efforts to reach the area were halted by security personnel due to threats from bandits,” Ara elaborated.
Shiroro is one of several districts in Niger State plagued by banditry, with frequent raids on villages, property looting, house burnings, and resident kidnappings for ransom.
“More than 30 miners are currently trapped in the collapsed pit,” Ara confirmed. “Seven individuals have been rescued, albeit with severe injuries, and rescue operations are ongoing to save the remaining miners.”
The precise number of trapped miners remains uncertain, compounded by challenges in reaching the site due to bandit threats. The region is renowned for mining activities, particularly for gold, tantalite, and lithium.
Moreover, rescue operations are impeded by limited equipment and rugged terrain.
Last year, the Niger state government imposed a ban on mining in the Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi districts due to security apprehensions. However, artisanal miners persisted in their activities, driven by the necessity for income after bandit incursions displaced many from their homes and farmlands.
