The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official statement following a deadly carbon monoxide incident that reportedly claimed the lives of 37 miners and left 25 others hospitalized in the Wase Local Government Area.
According to a report by security analyst Zagazola Makama, the tragedy occurred in the early hours of February 18 at a mining site operated by Solid Mining Company in Zurak, Plateau State.
Sources cited in the report said the victims, aged between 20 and 35, were carrying out routine mining activities when they inhaled toxic carbon monoxide that had built up in poorly ventilated tunnels.
“The site is under strict control, and emergency protocols are being followed to manage the situation,” a source reportedly told Makama.
As of Wednesday, checks indicated that the federal government, Plateau State authorities, and security agencies had not formally confirmed the incident.
The development once again highlights the dangers associated with mining operations in Nigeria, particularly concerns over safety standards and regulation.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has previously estimated the country’s solid mineral deposits to be worth about $750 billion. The mining sector generated N63.92 billion in revenue within the first 11 months of 2025, according to official figures.
