By Bunmi Yekini
At least 22 miners are feared dead following the collapse of an illegal mining site in a national game reserve spanning Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State. According to sources, the collapse occurred in the Buffa zone within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, a location known for its mineral deposits.
Local accounts indicate that mining activities in this area often occur under the cover of darkness, despite ongoing patrols by rangers. Adamu Jamtare, a miner from Gashaka, reported that most of the deceased were from Jamtare town. “All 22 miners who were said to have been trapped in the pit are presumed dead,” he stated.
Engineer Suleiman Toungo, Chairman of Toungo LGA, confirmed that five bodies had been retrieved, though he could not confirm the total number still trapped. He highlighted that miners from various regions, including Zamfara and Adamawa, regularly engage in illegal mining here, often leading to fatal incidents.
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) expressed deep concern over the incident. Philip Jakpor, CEO of RDI, decried the recurring fatalities in unregulated mining. “The mine collapse incident and needless deaths in the national game reserve area spanning Gashaka and Toungo LGAs in Taraba and Adamawa states respectively is one incident too many. A few months ago it was Shiroro in Niger State,” Jakpor said. He further stated, “We have said it time and again that proper oversight functions in communities where solid minerals are extracted is practically nil. Unregulated mining perpetrated by foreign nationals, especially the Chinese and their local collaborators, is responsible for a growing number of deaths of school-age children. It is unacceptable.”
Jakpor called on authorities to take swift action, urging, “We call on the government to investigate this incident and bring the operators of the illegal mines to book.”
Meanwhile, Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje confirmed that the police are working with Gumti National Park authorities to apprehend those involved.