Tragedy struck Budu village in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday evening when five women, including a pregnant woman, were killed after an illegal mining pit caved in.
The victims, identified as Tani Abubakar, Farida Mustapha, Farida Sule, Khadijat Abdullahi and Zainab Usman, were said to have been trapped when the pit collapsed around 6:30 pm, throwing the community into mourning.
Eyewitnesses told PLATFORM TIMES that the deceased, who hailed from Budu and Panbi villages, had gone in search of gold before the incident occurred. Despite frantic efforts by locals, the women were buried under the rubble until security operatives and emergency responders arrived at the scene.
A source in Paikoro Police Division disclosed that the victims’ bodies were exhumed and rushed to the General Hospital in Paiko, where doctors confirmed them dead on arrival.
Confirming the incident, a security analyst, Zagazola Makama, described the development as “a grim reminder of the dangers associated with illegal mining activities” that have become rampant in parts of Niger State.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said he was yet to receive a detailed situation report, promising that an update would be made available once investigations were concluded.
Illegal mining has remained a recurring menace in Niger State, often resulting in loss of lives, environmental degradation, and revenue leakages for government.
Residents of Paikoro have now called on the state government to take urgent steps to regulate mining activities in the area, warning that more lives could be lost if the sites are left unchecked.
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