At least 22 miners are feared dead following a mining pit collapse at an illegal gold mining site within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which spans the Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State. The pit, located in a hazardous zone known as the Buffa area, caved in while miners were working underground, resulting in a presumed death toll among those trapped inside.
Adamu Jamtare, a miner from the town of Jamtare in Gashaka, disclosed that many of the miners believed to be dead were locals. “They were extracting gold within the Buffa zone in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park,” Jamtare said. “Tragically, all 22 miners who were underground at the time are assumed to have lost their lives.”
The Chairman of Toungo LGA, Engineer Suleiman Toungo, confirmed that five bodies have been recovered from the site, although he was uncertain of the total number still buried beneath the rubble. According to him, the incident, which took place almost a month ago, involved miners from various parts of Nigeria, including Zamfara and Adamawa. Despite frequent patrols by park rangers, illegal mining in the area has persisted, often carried out covertly under cover of darkness.
The Gashaka-Gumti National Park, known for its rich mineral deposits, has witnessed numerous fatalities in recent years due to unregulated mining. Local residents report that last year alone, approximately 70 miners lost their lives in similar incidents, which largely went unreported.
An anonymous resident of Tila village recalled previous tragic incidents, stating, “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a high death toll from these illegal operations. Many people died here last year, but no action was taken to curb the activity.”
Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, also confirmed recent fatalities due to pit collapses. He cited one incident where four miners perished, and another involving six miners in which two were confirmed dead, while four others sustained injuries. SP Nguroje added that the police are coordinating efforts with Gumti National Park officials to locate and apprehend those involved in illegal mining operations.
As efforts continue to retrieve the remaining bodies, the tragedy has underscored the urgent need for stronger enforcement of mining regulations in protected areas.
