In Kampani Zurak community, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, a devastating explosion at an artisanal mining site has attracted deaths of nothing less than 33 people.
The tragedy took place inside a mining tunnel reportedly owned by Abdullahi Dan-China, operating under Mining Licence 11810 by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited. Occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, the incident prompted actions from Nigerian authorities, such as immediate closure of the affected mine.
Findings showed that the villagers hired by the company engaged in lead extraction at an abandoned site prone to toxic emissions. This followed civil agitation for economic inclusion from the community. Unaware of the dangers, the miners inhaled sulphuric oxide or carbon monoxide gases, leading to the fatal incident.
Joyce Ramnap, Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, confirmed that 33 individuals were trapped inside the tunnel at the time of the blast. She stated that injured survivors are receiving medical attention at nearby hospitals.
Meanwhile, a toll of 37 death casualties and 25 injured individuals was presented by Wase LGA Chairman, Hamisu Anani. This underscored the implication of the tragedy.
The Plateau event underlined the deadly and unsafe conditions of Nigeria’s informal mining sector, where abandoned sites have become disastrous. The site’s coordinates — between longitudes 10.34.45 and 10.35.50, and latitudes 9.13.45 and 9.14.40 — lie in a region known for lead and zinc deposits, but safety oversights have turned opportunity into disaster.
Governments’ Reactions
In a move to prevent further encounters and execute a thorough probe, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, ordered the immediate closure of all areas under the implicated mining licence.
In a statement through his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake dispatched a high-level team led by Permanent Secretary Yusuf Yabo. The team comprises mining experts, environmental compliance officers, and artisanal cooperative representatives.
The investigative team was charged to uncover both remote and immediate causes of the explosion, recommend sanctions, and ensure effective situation management.
Grieving with Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the bereaved families, Alake bemoaned occurrences, emphasizing coordinated support services.
Ramnap urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while the state collaborates with security agencies, emergency responders, and health authorities. This move reiterated recent actions in Bokkos LGA, where mining activities were suspended due to similar security concerns.
Broader Implications for Mining Safety
The Kampani Zurak disaster deepened urgent calls for heightened policies in Nigeria’s artisanal mining ecosystem, where unemployment crisis is driving locals into risky adventures.
Abandoned mining sites, like that of Plateau, often release lethal gases, exposing unregulated operators to invisible threats. Experts warned that without radical management, such incidents could continue claiming more lives in mineral-rich North-Central regions.
Safety training, gas detection equipment, and community empowerment programs that prioritize lives over livelihoods, featured among the solutions suggested to the federal and state governments.
As investigations continued, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of Nigeria’s solid minerals boom, demanding systemic reforms to safeguard vulnerable miners.