Nigerian Government offers condolences to Plateau, shuts mining site over killer toxic gas

*The Federal Government of Nigeria expresses condolences to the victims of the disaster, directing the closure of areas covered by Mining Licence 11810 in the Wase Local Government of Plateau State

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Following the deaths of villagers purportedly mining in a pit containing gaseous emissions, the Federal Government of Nigeria expressed condolences to the victims of the disaster.

The government directed the closure of areas covered by Mining Licence 11810 in the Wase Local Government of Plateau State.

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Report indicated that an unconfirmed number of persons died, following a suspected toxic gas exposure at a mining site in the area.

The development is said to have sparked renewed concerns over unsafe mining practices and regulation in the area.

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Nigerian Government Offers Condolences To Plateau, Shuts Mining Site Over Killer Toxic Gas

Affirming the development, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), who said this in a statement issued Wednesday, February 18, 2026, disclosed the noted licence is operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, owned by Abdullahi Dan-China in Zuraq.

Earlier, in a condolence call to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Dr. Dele Alake, Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, sympathised with him over the loss of the innocent citizens who died while trying to earn a living.

Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, noted Dr. Alake also dispatched a team of officials and investigators, led by Permanent Secretary, Yusuf Yabo, to probe the remote and immediate causes of the incident and recommend sanctions.

The Minister stated: “The team also includes experts in mining, environmental compliance, and artisanal cooperatives.

“The Minister is coordinating the team and the support services to ensure effective management of the situation.

“The actions were taken as preliminary reports indicated that the company ceded the pit where the incident took place to the community to mine following agitations by villagers for empowerment.”

The statement said findings showed that the area was an abandoned lead site with the stored mineral prone to emissions of sulphuric oxide.

The Federal Government said: “Unaware of the poisonous nature of the emissions, the villagers reportedly engaged in extraction while inhaling the gaseous substance.

“ML 11810 lies between longitudes 10.34.45, and 10.35.50 and latitudes 9.13.45, 9.14.40.”

The Minister assured Nigerians of making further disclosures regarding the deadly incident, as investigations continue.

How the disaster occurred, by eye-witness

Relating the incident, Shafi Sambo, Wase Youth Leader, said he received an early-morning call alerting him to the tragedy because of his position as the youth leader of the area.

Sambo reportedly said in a telephone interview: “It happened at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government.

“We got information that the miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly.”

The Wase youth leader also said several other miners were rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.

He disclosed that the youths were mining zinc on behalf of a company said to be a Chinese-owned mining firm operating in the area.

The nature of the mineral being mined was not immediately confirmed, report noted.

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