A mining disaster has struck Kadauri village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, leaving no fewer than 13 miners dead while many others remain trapped underground.
Eyewitnesses said the tragic incident occurred on Thursday while miners were digging for gold. One of the survivors, Sani Hassan, recounted how he narrowly escaped death after stepping out of the pit to fetch water just moments before it caved in.
“Immediately I left, the pit collapsed and buried some of my colleagues. There were more than 30 persons inside. Eleven bodies were initially evacuated, and many others are still there,” Hassan told Hobnob News.
Rescue operations have since been ongoing, with local residents and fellow miners working tirelessly to retrieve the victims. A community member, Sanusi Auwal, who joined in the rescue efforts, confirmed that at least 13 bodies, including that of his cousin, had been recovered.
Another survivor, Isa Sani, who sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment, said:
“We are lucky to be rescued alive. Out of more than 100 people, only 15 of us survived.”
The Zamfara State Miners Association also confirmed the incident through one of its officials, Muhammadu Isa, who described the collapse as “a devastating tragedy for the community.”
As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comments.
