Four persons were killed while several others were injured from an explosion Sunday at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, located in the Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State.
The blast occurred in the morning as miners began their work for the day.
While the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, local residents have speculated that improper handling of explosives by the mining companies operating in the area may be to blame.
Community sources confirmed that the bodies of four victims have been recovered, although the total number of casualties remains uncertain.
Authorities are concerned that the final toll may be higher as further search and recovery efforts continue.
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A local resident named Aminu described the chaos that followed the explosion, noting the intense panic it caused.
“The explosion was so loud that many thought it came from the nearby hydroelectric dam. Everyone immediately fled into the bush for safety,” he explained.
Another resident emphasized that mining companies in the region have a history of using explosives in their operations, which could have led to the blast.
They ruled out any connection to terrorist activities, stating, “Mining operations have been going on here for a long time, so this seems to be an operational issue.”
At the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies had released an official statement regarding the incident.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and further updates are expected as more details emerge.
Crediblenewsng.com
