February 18, (THEWILL) — Residents of Company Zurak in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State have been thrown into mourning following a tragic incident at a mining site where dozens of miners were reportedly killed after exposure to suspected toxic gas.
Confirming the incident, the Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, said he received an early-morning alert about the disaster. He explained that the miners were working deep underground when they were suddenly overcome by the gas, leading to multiple fatalities.
“It happened at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area. We were informed that the miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly”, Sambo said, adding that several other miners were rescued alive and taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Sambo added that the victims were youths engaged in zinc mining on behalf of a company believed to be a Chinese-owned firm operating in the area, though authorities had yet to officially confirm the mineral being extracted.
In the aftermath of the incident, troops of the Nigerian Army were deployed to the site and immediately sealed off the area to prevent further access and possible exposure to the suspected gas.
“The army has cordoned off the place to stop people from going there and to ensure the situation is brought under control”, he said.
As of press time, the Plateau State Government and the State Police Command had not issued any official response to the incident.
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