Two brothers, Zubairu Ibrahim and Sadiq Ibrahim, tragically lost their lives when a mine collapsed in Kakaki village, located in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, follows three previous mine collapses in the Shiroro and Paikoro areas in recent months.
The brothers, aged 20 and 25, had left home to dig for solid minerals without informing their parents. Their absence was only noticed later that evening when they failed to return for dinner and evening prayers. Initially, their father, Mallam Zubairu Ibrahim, assumed the young men were out with friends. However, upon realizing they had gone to the mine site, he sent community members to search for them. Tragically, the brothers’ bodies were found buried beneath the collapsed soil at the riverbank.
In a conversation with officials from the state Ministry of Mineral Resources who visited the village for condolence and fact-finding, Ibrahim expressed his deep sorrow, lamenting how he would cope with life after burying both sons in one day.
The visiting team was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni, and included directors, the Miners Association State Chapter Caretaker Chairman, and representatives from the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers (NUMW).
Nahauni noted that the deaths were avoidable if the community had adhered to the Governor’s order suspending mining activities in the state. He stressed that the suspension is still in effect and that the ministry will continue to crack down on illegal mining operations, warning that those found violating these regulations would face legal consequences.
Nahauni extended the government’s condolences and emphasized the need to determine the cause of the accident. He urged the community to inform the ministry whenever they discover mineral elements to receive proper guidance.
When the team attempted to visit the mine site to assess the damage, they were prevented by villagers who were prepared to confront them, believing that the government officials were there to extort money.
The villagers, mainly youths, claimed that a previous team from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had allegedly extorted N25,000 from the deceased’s parents to fuel their vehicle. This incident has created distrust among the villagers, who now view any visiting authority with suspicion, believing they are out to extort money.
