Nigeria’s federal government has ordered the immediate closure of a mining site in Plateau state after about 37 villagers reportedly died from inhaling toxic gases during artisanal mining activities, officials said Wednesday.
Twenty-five others were hospitalized after exposure to suspected carbon monoxide at the site in Zurak, in Wase Local Government Area, according to information shared by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X.
The victims, mostly young men between the ages of 20 and 35, were carrying out underground mining operations when they inhaled toxic gases believed to have accumulated in poorly ventilated tunnels.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake directed that all activities under Mining Licence 11810 be suspended following the incident. The license is operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Ltd. and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his special assistant on media, Segun Tomori, Alake expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives during a condolence visit to Plateau State Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, He described the victims as “innocent citizens trying to earn a living” and urged the governor to convey his solidarity to the people of Wase.
Alake also dispatched a high-level investigative team led by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Yusuf Yabo, to determine the immediate and underlying causes of the incident and recommend sanctions. The team includes experts in mining, environmental compliance and artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives.
Federal officials said further details would be released as investigations continue.
Preliminary findings indicate the company allegedly ceded the abandoned pit to the host community following agitation by villagers seeking economic opportunities. The area was described as an abandoned lead mining site containing mineral deposits prone to emitting sulfuric oxide gas.
Unaware of the site’s toxic nature, villagers reportedly engaged in manual extraction and inhaled the poisonous emissions, leading to the fatalities.
The incident underscores the risks posed by abandoned mining pits across Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where economic hardship drives informal mining without adequate safety safeguards.
Abandoned sites in Plateau, Zamfara and Niger states have long posed environmental and public health concerns, with experts warning about exposure to heavy metals, toxic gases and contaminated water.
Nigeria has stepped up efforts in recent years to formalize artisanal mining, strengthen environmental compliance and attract foreign investment into the sector. However, the latest tragedy highlights gaps in monitoring host communities and enforcing mine closure and rehabilitation requirements.
Officials have warned that illegal mining and unsafe practices threaten lives and undermine efforts to build a globally competitive mining industry.
