The federal government has ordered the immediate closure of a mining site in Zurak, Wase LGA of Plateau State following a deadly gas exposure incident that claimed at least 37 lives and hospitalized 26 others on Wednesday.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, directed the shutdown of areas under Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China.
Preliminary reports indicate that most victims were young artisanal miners, aged between 20 and 35, who inhaled toxic gases—including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead oxide—while working in a poorly ventilated underground pit at the abandoned lead site.
According to Segun Tomori, spokesperson for the Minister, the company had reportedly ceded the pit to local miners in response to community demands for economic empowerment. Unaware of the residual minerals’ ability to emit poisonous gases, miners entered the confined space, leading to rapid suffocation.
The Plateau State Police Command, which responded around 6 a.m., cordoned off the area, deployed tactical units including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts, and collected rock, soil, and mineral samples for forensic analysis.
Authorities confirmed that no explosives were involved and attributed the deaths solely to the sudden release of toxic gases.
Minister Alake visited Caleb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau, to convey condolences, expressing deep sorrow and solidarity with the people of Wase over the “irreparable loss” of citizens who had sought livelihoods in the mining sector.
