The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive investigation into the mining tragedy in Zurak community of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, where at least 37 miners have been confirmed dead and 25 others hospitalised.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Faruk Yabo, on Thursday led a Federal Government delegation to the affected mining site to assess the situation and initiate a detailed probe into the incident.
Our correspondent gathered that the delegation comprised key officials of the ministry, including the Director of Mines Compliance, the Director of Inspectorate, and the Director of Environmental Compliance and Special Duties. Representatives of the Plateau State Government were also part of the inspection team.
The visit followed the tragic incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Zurak community, located in Wase Local Government Area. The miners were reportedly exposed to suspected carbon monoxide and sulphite gas emissions while working at the site.
Speaking during the visit, the ministry’s representative expressed the Federal Government’s condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the tragedy and identify any lapses in safety compliance.
He noted that the government remains committed to enforcing strict safety standards in the mining sector to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, adding that appropriate sanctions would be applied if negligence or regulatory violations are established.
The affected miners are currently receiving treatment at undisclosed medical facilities, while local authorities continue to monitor the situation in the community.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about safety practices and regulatory enforcement in artisanal and small-scale mining operations across the country.
