Seven miners have been killed after a mining pit collapsed in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A resident of the community, Albert Danlami, said the pit suddenly caved in on the miners, trapping them underground on Wednesday evening.
Danlami described the incident as devastating, saying residents and other miners rushed to the site and began efforts to recover those trapped beneath the debris.
He said the collapse triggered panic in the community as residents gathered at the mining site after news of the incident spread.
The latest incident adds to a series of mining-related deaths recorded in Plateau State, where poorly managed or unsafe mining sites have repeatedly exposed workers to pit collapses and other hazards.
In September 2025, four miners died after a mining site collapsed in Dura community, Jos South Local Government Area, while several others were initially reported trapped.
Plateau also recorded a much larger mining tragedy in February 2026, when at least 37 miners died in Kampani Zurak, Wase Local Government Area, following exposure to suspected toxic gases in an underground mining site. Twenty-six others were hospitalized, according to reports.
Following the February tragedy, the Federal Government ordered the closure of the affected mining operations and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Mining accidents have also continued to raise safety concerns in other parts of Nigeria. In June 2024, a mining pit collapse in Galkogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, trapped dozens of workers after heavy rainfall weakened the ground.
The recurring incidents have heightened concerns about safety standards, enforcement of mining regulations and the conditions under which artisanal and small-scale miners operate.
For residents of Kassa, the immediate concern remains the loss of lives and the impact of the tragedy on the affected families, as the community mourns the seven miners who lost their lives.
Daily Trust
