A tragic collapse at the Kadauri gold mine in Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State, on Thursday claimed numerous lives as artisanal miners worked underground. The incident, triggered by heavy rainfall, left scores trapped when the mining pit caved in.
Rescue efforts continued into Friday, with local resident Sanusi Auwal reporting that at least 13 bodies, including his cousin’s, had been recovered. “Over 100 miners were involved during the collapse,” Auwal told Reuters by phone. Survivor Isa Sani, now receiving treatment for injuries, added, “Out of more than 100 people, only 15 of us were rescued.”
Muhammadu Isa of the Zamfara State Miners Association confirmed the disaster, noting that some rescuers suffocated while attempting to save victims. Amb. Bala Ahmad, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZSEMA), also verified the incident to journalists in Gusau on Friday but provided no further details, citing an ongoing meeting with stakeholders.
Local leaders reported that the exact number of casualties and trapped miners remains unknown. Injured survivors are being treated at Maru General Hospital, while community members and state officials work tirelessly to rescue those still trapped in the collapsed pits.
