Key Points:
- The pit failed at Kadauri site in Maru council. Eyewitnesses fear many miners are still underground.
- More than 100 miners worked below before the cave-in. Rescuers pulled about 15 alive from the rubble.
- ZSEMA leads a nonstop search with local help. Police confirm eight deaths while bodies still emerge.
A gold mine pit collapsed in Zamfara on Thursday night. The cave-in hit the Kadauri site in Maru Local Government. Witnesses fear scores are dead under fallen rock walls. Teams now work through rubble to reach trapped miners.
Survivors say heavy rain soaked and weakened the rocky ground. The wet soil gave way while mining crews dug tunnels. Chaos followed as dust rose and timbers snapped. Shouts for help echoed across the dark, steep pits.
Rescue runs through the night in Kadauri
Reports from the scene speak of vast numbers underground. Witness Isa Sani says more than 100 miners toiled below. He adds that only a small group made it out. “Only a handful came out alive,” he said softly.
Local volunteers formed the first rescue lines in minutes. They dug with shovels and bare hands in shifts. State officials then arrived with ropes and stretchers. Work lights now glow around the scarred pit mouth.
At least 13 bodies have been recovered from the site. Police issued an update that confirmed eight deaths today. Officials warn the toll could rise as hours pass. Some rescuers even suffocated while trying to reach victims.
Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency coordinates the response. Executive Secretary Bala Ahmad confirmed the grim situation tonight. He says the final count remains unclear for now. Records are hard due to the huge shift intake.
Grief also spread through the Zamfara State Miners Association. Leaders pledged gear and crews to help the search. Families gathered near the site to await firm news. Prayers rose as ambulances idled by the dirt road.
Earlier this month, our desk reported the Dangote refinery naira sales shift. Many now link harsh jobs to wider, rising costs.
Unsafe pits, rain, and armed groups worsen risks
Mining mishaps are common in Zamfara’s rough gold fields. Artisanal pits spread fast despite past state bans. Most sites lack guards, rails, tests, or safety plans. Heavy rain often drenches walls and triggers quick collapses.
Residents say gangs profit from illegal mine routes nearby. Such groups tax pits and scare away safety checks. Miners keep digging to feed homes despite great risk. Many cannot find other work that pays each day.
Officials urge strict rules and fresh site audits statewide. They also ask miners to leave unstable shafts now. Experts call for drains, props, and trained watch teams. Local chiefs plan town talks on safer mining habits.
Marketers also plan higher pump prices from Monday. See the report on the IPMAN pump price move. Families say fuel hikes may push more youths underground. Aid groups warn that poverty drives many risky choices.
For now, the search keeps running under floodlights. Crews pause at times to listen for weak knocks. Names are read aloud as loved ones hold hands. Hope holds as dawn nears the rocky hills.
