At least 38 miners lost their lives in Kampani Zurak community, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, following a carbon monoxide leak at a mining site.
Reports said more than 20 others sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been rushed to different medical facilities for treatment, while over 10 persons are still reported missing as rescue efforts continue.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday as the miners went about their routine activities underground.
Residents and eyewitnesses said the incident happened at about 6:30 a.m., shortly after the victims had observed their morning prayers and returned to the mining site.
They reportedly began experiencing breathing difficulties and other symptoms consistent with gas inhalation inside the tunnel.
Community members described the tragedy as unprecedented, noting that fatalities of such magnitude linked to carbon monoxide exposure are rare in Kampani Zurak since the establishment of Solid Unity Nigeria Limited, a mining firm, where the incident happened.
The Plateau State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, in a statement on Wednesday, extended the government’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.
She described the incident as shocking and deeply saddening.
“The Plateau State Government has received with deep shock and profound sadness reports of a tragic explosion at a mining site in Kampani Zurak, reportedly owned by Solid Unity Nig. Ltd.
“According to preliminary information, about 33 persons were said to have been inside the mining tunnel at the time of the explosion.
“Sadly, many lives are feared lost, while others who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. We share in your grief at this painful moment,” the statement said.
While eyewitnesses attributed the incident to a carbon monoxide leak in the mining pit, the state government referred to it as an explosion, without providing details on what might have triggered it.
It was gathered that a similar incident occurred in 2025, which claimed two lives.
The mining company has been operating in the area for decades, extracting lead and zinc and hundreds of people from Wase and other parts of the country aged between 25 and 40 depend on the site for their livelihoods.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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