The Federal Government has shut down a mining site operated by Solid Unity Nigeria Limited in Kampani Zurak community, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, following a suspected carbon-monoxide leak that has killed at least 38 miners and injured more than 20 others.
The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, when dozens of mostly young artisanal miners reportedly entered an underground lead-zinc pit and were overcome by toxic gases that had accumulated in poorly ventilated shafts. Survivors were rushed to nearby health facilities, while recovery teams later pulled multiple bodies from the tunnels.
Officials say the death toll may rise as search efforts continue.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, ordered the immediate closure and sealing of the mine, which operates under Mining Licence 11810, and constituted a high-level forensic investigation to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the disaster.
Preliminary findings indicate the pit was an abandoned lead mine considered hazardous due to toxic emissions, but which had allegedly been ceded to local informal miners who resumed extraction without adequate safety measures or ventilation systems.
Authorities are also examining whether the company and regulators failed to secure the abandoned site or prevent illegal mining activities. Reports indicate that at least two workers died in a similar incident at the same location in 2025, raising concerns about prior warning signs that went unaddressed.
The Federal Government and Plateau State authorities have pledged support for victims’ families and vowed to enforce stricter safety oversight of abandoned and artisanal mining sites across the country.
The incident has again highlighted the deadly risks associated with Nigeria’s widespread informal mining sector, where impoverished youths often enter poorly ventilated pits in search of livelihood, frequently without protective equipment or regulatory supervision.
Investigations are ongoing, with sanctions expected if negligence or regulatory breaches are established.
Abuja Network News
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