In a harrowing and rapidly evolving disaster, a gold mine collapse in Zamfara State has left **at least 100 people feared dead**, according to eyewitnesses and local sources. The collapse occurred on Thursday at the Kadauri mining site, located within Maru Local Government Area (LGA), and involved a cord of mainly artisanal miners operating deep underground.
What Happened: Collapse, Rescue, and Rising Toll
Local residents told Reuters that the pit caved in while scores of miners were working inside, trapping many beneath tons of debris. According to Sanusi Auwal, a volunteer on site, at least 13 bodies have been recovered so far, including that of his own cousin. He noted that “over 100 miners were involved during the collapse.” Another survivor, Isa Sani, recounted how out of more than 100 persons in the pit, only 15 were rescued—he is now under medical care.
Tragically, even some rescue workers have suffered. According to Muhammadu Isa of the Zamfara State Miners Association, some rescuers have suffocated while digging through the rubble.
Efforts are ongoing, but are hampered by volatile conditions underground, lack of proper equipment, and the sheer scale of the collapse. Given the number of persons likely inside, authorities and locals warn that the death toll may climb further.
The High Risk of Illegal, Artisanal Mining in Zamfara
Zamfara has a long history of informal, small‐scale (artisanal) mining operations, often conducted without safety oversight or regulation. Such operations are vulnerable to structural failures, especially in narrow, deeper shafts with poor support.
Compounding the danger is the fact that a five-year ban on mining exploration in Zamfara was only formally lifted in December 2024. The ban had been imposed in 2019 amid rampant insecurity, banditry, and concerns about illegal mining fueling local conflict.
Since lifting the ban, the federal government has attempted to regulate mining operations more strictly, issuing guidelines and standard operating procedures to contain illegal practices. Still, enforcement remains patchy, and unregulated pits continue to proliferate across the state.
Zamfara also faces longstanding issues of environmental degradation (deforestation, erosion), water contamination (from chemical use in gold processing), and links between mining and security threats such as banditry.
Government Response & Policy Challenges
The federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has in recent months been vocal about cracking down on illegal mining and developing a regulatory framework for safer operations.However, the sudden collapse underscores the gap between policy ambitions and ground realities.
In April 2025, the federal government ordered illegal miners in Zamfara to vacate mining sites, following reports of lead poisoning in **Bugundu LGA**. The order cited ongoing risks to public health and environmental safety. While mining remained officially suspended during that period, many miners reportedly continued operations illicitly, complicating enforcement.
The current tragedy will test the government’s ability to enforce safety standards, hold operators accountable, and ensure that future mining activity does not carry such deadly risks.
Conclusion & Outlook
The mine collapse in Zamfara is a somber reminder of how fragile and dangerous unregulated mining operations are. With over 100 people feared dead and many still unaccounted for, the human toll is already immense—and likely to increase.
Beyond the immediate rescue challenge, this disaster spotlights structural failings in regulation, enforcement, and accountability in Nigeria’s mining sector. As the federal and state authorities scramble to respond, their actions in the coming days will be critical: how they support victims’ families, investigate responsibility, and reform mining practices may define whether such tragedies become less frequent or tragically routine.
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