Four miners have reportedly died after a mining pit collapsed on them in the Baban Rafi area of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday while the victims were reportedly inside the pit mining tin.
Bokkos Youth Leader, Daniel Tula, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying the victims comprised two men and two women.
Tula said the miners were trapped after the pit caved in and were subsequently buried by their relatives.
He described the incident as the first of its kind in the area and raised concerns over the safety of mining activities in the community.
According to him, the exact circumstances surrounding the collapse were still being established, but the victims were confirmed to have been engaged in tin mining when the pit collapsed.
However, the Plateau State Police Command said it had not received any official report on the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, said he had not been briefed about the reported deaths.
Alabo noted that miners often failed to report such incidents to the police, making it difficult for the command to immediately verify reports of mining-related deaths.
He, however, said the command would provide further information once it received a formal briefing.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Bokkos Local Government Chairman were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls seeking his reaction.
The reported deaths have renewed concerns over safety risks associated with mining activities in Plateau State.
About The Author
