At least 37 miners have died due to carbon monoxide inhalation inside an abandoned mining pit in Kampani, a community in the Wase region of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 5:45 am on Wednesday, when a group of villagers entered the unused underground site to extract minerals. According to a safety report and a police source, the miners were exposed to toxic gas trapped within the tunnel. Twenty-five others were rescued and taken to hospital.
Dele Alake, Nigeria's minister of solid minerals development, said the site was a former lead mine where residual mineral deposits could release dangerous gases. He said that people entering the tunnel were unaware of the risks.
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Following the incident, the federal government ordered the immediate suspension of mining activities in the area. The operations involving license 11810, owned by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and owned by Abdullahi Dan-China, have been shut down pending investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the victims, aged between 20 and 35, died while working underground. Plateau state officials said several injured miners were in hospital.
Security personnel have sealed the site to prevent further entry.
