Three Artisanal Miners Die, 5 Injured in Zamfara Mining Pit Accident
At least three artisanal miners have died while 11 were injured when a mining pit collapsed in Dan Kamfani, Anka Local Government of Zamfara State Thursday.
A miner, who works around Dan Kamfani, and sought anonymity for security reasons, told PREMIUM TIMES via phone that the accident occurred around 04:00 p.m and that ”The corpses have been taken to Yar Sabaya, where the dead miners came from.
The miner, who said he had left the area when the mining pit caved in added that ”It was tragic because though things like this do happen, it has been a long while since we witnessed a tragic incidence like this.”
He said the 11 miners who were ‘seriously’ injured were taken to the General Hospital in Anka by their colleagues.
Zamfara, being rich in solid minerals that include gold, iron ore, limestone, granite, chromate and kaolin among others has been operating the sector in in unregulated environment that has been going on for decades.
These resources have attracted artisanal miners despite the ban on mining by the federal and state governments.
The areas with the most gold concentration in the state are Anka, Maru, Bungudu, Maradun and Bukkuyum where unlicensed artisanal miners operate.
Terrorists have also taken advantage of the absence of authorities in the areas to explore mineral resources using local miners, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.
“The deceased and injured miners were alleged to be working for one of the terror kingpins named as Halilu Sububu a source said.
He is believed to be in control of several communities with an abundance of solid minerals deposits especially in the Anka, Maru, Maradun and Bukkuyum areas.
In 2010, unsafe mining by artisanal miners led to lead poisoning in the state which claimed the lives of more than 400 children.