More facts on what led to the collapse and death of some miners at a mining site in Niger State have emerged.
The facts were released after the visit of the state Commissioner for Mineral resources, Alhaji Garba Sabo Yahaya, his permanent Secretary, other management team, the state Commissioner of Police and other top government officials.
The state government attributed the disaster to the flagrant disobedience to the order issued by the state government few months ago directing all miners to suspend their activities and vacate the sites until further notice.
Addressing Journalists shortly after an inspection tour of site, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni said there was a lack of compliance and synergy between the mining company's Management Director and the District Head as they have been operating even after the government order for them to vacate the site.
"This lack of coordination arose due to the Governor's directive to suspend all mining activities in the state and crack down on illegal miners as a result of increasing security concerns.
"The Governor through the ministry had issued letters to all the Emirate instructing them accordingly but they refused to yield to the directive.
A statement issued by the Information officer of the Ministry, Dibie Maureen said the District Head of Galkoho Village confirmed that six people have so far been rescued
"The district head of Galkogo village confirmed that initially, a total of 20 people were trapped in the mining site, but 6 have since been rescued.
"The site Admin officer of Africa Minerals and Logistics Ltd, the mining company operating in the area also said that the collapse occurred due to hanging walls within the mining site and that at the time of going to Press,14 persons were still trapped.
The names of the miners currently trapped are as follows:
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- Abdullahi Yahaya, Ibrahim Mansir
Abubakar Isah, Friday Musa,Godwin Hussaini, Benjamin Ashafa, Zayyanu Ibrahim, Abdul Ali, Hamza Musa, Umar Abubakar, Joseph Madaki, Ibrahim I. Ishiaku Kuta, Abbas Musa and Yakubu Mamman.
Meanwhile, the State Ministry for Mineral Resources in collaboration with relevant authorities and rescue teams are still working tirelessly to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining trapped individuals though no specific number of those trapped was given.
