A devastating incident has struck Udege Mbeki in Nasarawa Local Government Area, where two young brothers, Umar Muhammad (7) and Ibrahim Muhammad (9), tragically drowned in an abandoned mining site filled with rainwater.
he site, previously operated by Kenyang Mining Company Limited—a Chinese firm—had long been left unprotected, creating a fatal hazard following heavy downpours. The children were reported to have followed their cousin to the site, where he had gone to wash clothes, when the tragedy occurred on Thursday.
Dauda Kana, Chairman of Afo Youth Mobility, expressed sorrow over the incident in a statement, attributing the loss of lives to the company’s failure to reclaim the 50-meter safety buffer zone surrounding the excavation site, as mandated by law.
“This painful tragedy is the result of corporate negligence,” Kana stated. “We hold Kenyang Mining Company accountable for ignoring their obligation to restore the paddocks and secure the community.”
Kana further disclosed that Afo Youth Mobility (officially registered as Afo Youth Mentorship Initiative), along with nine other plaintiffs, had previously taken the mining firm to the Nasarawa State High Court to enforce the Community Development Agreement (CDA) signed on September 26, 2021.
Justice Rose G. Soji of the High Court in Keffi initially granted an interim injunction in November 2024, halting all mining operations and preventing any intimidation of the community. The legal battle was later resolved through a consent judgment issued on March 4, 2025, which mandated:
Submission of a reclamation plan within one year of further excavation.
Immediate reclamation work upon regulatory approval.
A four-year limit on mining activity in Millionaire’s Quarters.
Construction of a concrete fence with a 40-meter buffer between residential areas and mining zones.
Rehabilitation of the Udege Mbeki–Gada Hudu road.
Provision of boreholes, electricity, hospital, school, and a police post in the relocation site.
“Sadly, the joy that followed the judgment has now turned into heartbreak,” Kana lamented. “This incident highlights the urgent need for swift reclamation of the abandoned paddocks to prevent further loss of life.”
Kana emphasized that Afo Youth Mobility is prepared to return to court to enforce the consent judgment should the company continue to renege on its commitments.
He also called on the Nasarawa State Government to enhance regulatory oversight and enforce compliance with the Nigerian Mining Act, insisting that mining firms must be held accountable for ensuring community safety and environmental responsibility.
The two brothers have since been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites in their hometown of Udege Mbeki, an Afo-speaking community still reeling from the loss.
