Federal Government has ordered the immediate shutdown of a mining site in Zurak, Wase LGA of Plateau State, following a deadly gas poisoning incident that claimed the lives of at least 37 people and left 26 others hospitalised.
Gatekeepers News reports that the directive was issued by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who ordered the sealing of all operations under Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China.
Reports confirmed that the victims, mainly young artisanal miners aged between 20 and 35, were exposed to lethal toxic gases while working inside a poorly ventilated underground pit at an abandoned lead mining site. The gases identified include carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and lead oxide, which reportedly built up within the confined space and caused rapid suffocation.
According to the minister’s spokesperson, Segun Tomori, preliminary findings revealed that the mining company had earlier handed over the pit to local miners following repeated community demands for economic empowerment. Unaware of the lingering danger posed by residual minerals and trapped gases, the miners reportedly entered the pit, triggering the tragic incident.
Emergency responders from the Plateau State Police Command were among the first to arrive at the scene in the early hours of Wednesday. The police immediately secured the area, deployed tactical teams including Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts, and collected soil, rock, and mineral samples for forensic examination. Authorities later confirmed that no explosives or blast-related materials were found, attributing the deaths solely to the sudden release of toxic gases.
Federal Government has also directed a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with plans to review safety compliance, mining practices, and community mining arrangements across the state. Officials said further regulatory actions would follow based on the outcome of the probe.
During a condolence visit to Plateau State, Alake met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and expressed the Federal Government’s sympathy with affected families and residents of Wase, describing the tragedy as an irreparable loss of citizens who were only seeking legitimate means of livelihood.
He assured that stricter monitoring, enforcement of mining safety standards, and renewed public sensitisation campaigns would be intensified to prevent a recurrence.
Rescue efforts and medical support for survivors are ongoing, while the sealed site remains under heavy security as investigations continue.
