At least 13 people lost their lives in a mining site collapse on Saturday in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.
The Bassa LGA Chairman, Dr. Joshua Riti, confirmed the incident, while expressing deep sorrow.
The mining site, located at the borders of Bassa, Jos South, and Jos North LGAs, has since become a scene of mourning, especially within the Bassa community, from which seven of the victims hailed.
Dr. Riti described the deceased as young people striving for livelihood in the face of economic hardship. “They went out to put their energies to good use to sustain and meet up with the current economic hardship in the country but met their untimely death,” he stated, extending heartfelt condolences to the grieving families.
Most of the victims were aged between 18 and 30, adding to the profound impact on the community’s younger generation. This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the risks associated with informal mining activities and the urgent need for improved safety measures in mining communities.
