A devastating carbon-monoxide leak has claimed the lives of at least 33 miners at a lead and zinc operation in Nigeria’s Plateau state, according to eyewitness accounts. The tragedy unfolded in the predawn hours at a facility operated by Solid Unity Nigeria Ltd, located near Wase town.
Initial investigations indicate that lethal concentrations of toxic gas accumulated within inadequately ventilated underground tunnels, causing workers to collapse near the conclusion of their night shift. The victims were discovered by arriving day-shift personnel, who also facilitated the rescue and hospitalization of more than 20 surviving colleagues.
Security forces have established a perimeter around the mining site, situated approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Jos, as official inquiries commence to determine the precise cause of the gas leak. Response operations have been hampered by regional security concerns, with state officials yet to visit the disaster zone due to documented activity by armed criminal groups locally termed ‘bandits’.
Eyewitness Safiyanu Haruna, who encountered the tragic scene at shift change, provided firsthand testimony to BBC reporters. Contrary to official statements referencing a mining explosion, Haruna maintained that carbon-monoxide poisoning caused the fatalities, which he numbered at 37. The victims had reportedly just completed morning Islamic prayers before returning underground to complete their work cycle.
Haruna emotionally noted the absence of immediate rescue capabilities, as morning shift workers had not yet arrived at the time of the incident. The predominantly Muslim community conducted burial ceremonies according to local traditions for victims believed to be aged 20-40 years.
This incident echoes a similar mining disaster in neighboring Niger state less than two years prior, where dozens perished in a rain-induced collapse. The recurring nature of such tragedies has intensified scrutiny regarding safety protocols and regulatory enforcement within Nigeria’s mining industry.