ON June 3, 2024, at least 20 miners were trapped after a mining pit owned by the African Minerals and Logistics Limited collapsed in Galkogo, a remote community in Shiroro Local Government, Niger State. The ICIR’s Nurudeen Akewushola reports how the company’s negligence and failed rescue operations led to the death of 15 miners.

Standing in the middle of the anxious crowd, 58-year-old Abdullahi Isa fought to hold back tears as he watched the lifeless body of his son dragged out of the collapsed pit. The tears had yet cascaded down his cheeks before he staggered and then passed out.

His son, Abubakar, was among the miners trapped in the collapsed pit owned by African Minerals and Logistics Limited. The disaster claimed the lives of scores of young workers in Galkogo, a remote village in Shiroro local government area of Niger State.

Abubakar, 30, had recently tied the knot with his wife, Halimah just four months before the incident. But the joy of this milestone that was meant to mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life was cut short by the job he took a month into the marriage. He lost his life and turned his young wife to a widow.

Even though media reports indicated that torrential rainfall softened the soil leading to the collapse of the pit, The ICIR gathered that a section of the pit had collapsed a night before the incident signalling a looming danger.

The next morning, the miners told their supervisor of the incident and expressed concerns over their safety but they were asked to continue mining or lose their jobs, witnesses told The ICIR.

This directive is a direct violation of section 70 of the Nigeria Mining Act which imposes an obligation on mining companies to ensure the health and safety of all workers on the site.

It requires companies to implement safety protocols and provide necessary equipment and training to workers to avoid accidents.

It didn’t take more than 10 minutes after the miners returned to the cave under the directive of their supervisor, Ibrahim Ishaku, when they began to hear a creaking sound. Before they could react, the walls of the pit began to collapse, and the ground beneath them caved in.

The bright sunny morning morphed into a total eclipse. There was no means of escape as chunks of rock rained down from above and crashed on them. While some managed to crawl out, the boulders pinned about 14 others inside, including Ishaku. They cried for help, languishing in pain until they succumbed to the very pit that had once been their source of livelihood.

When their relatives learnt of the incident, they trooped to the site immediately in search of their loved ones. The few who survived were taken to the hospital. Others whose relatives were trapped inside slumped on the ground and cried. They waited for weeks as the rescue operations dragged on but it didn’t pay off. They later went back home with the lifeless bodies of their loved ones.

Residents of the community who spoke with The ICIR accused the company of negligence and lack of sympathy for the lives of the labourers despite raking in millions monthly from the site.

“The week they didn’t make any money at all, they made nothing less than N500 million on the site. Because it’s raw gold that’s there,” a source familiar with the activities of the company told The ICIR.

There are conflicting figures from the Niger State government agencies on the number of people trapped in the pit. While the state Emergency Management Agency said 30 people were trapped the police put the figures at 20.

The ICIR confirmed through interviews with multiple victims at the scene that 15 people died including a victim who was pronounced dead on August 23 after he was abandoned by the company, African Minerals and Logistics Limited.

Mining for survival

For many young people in Niger State, mining, both illegal and legal, is one of their major means of making ends meet. The richness of the state in terms of mineral resources has made it a hotbed for mining activities.

The state has issued 578 mineral titles, out of which 369, representing 81.46 per cent were granted on gold alone. Shiroro, where the pit collapsed, Munya and Rafi local government areas,  house one the largest deposit of gold in the state making them a place of attraction for terrorists locally known as bandits.

In August 2023, The Niger State government banned all forms of mining activities in the state. The ban which was unconditionally lifted recently was implemented by the Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago to enable the government to profile all those involved in mining operations across the state and keep accurate records of their activities.

However, companies like African Mines and Logistics Limited continued to violate the directives under their watch putting many lives at risk.

Lack of rescue mechanism leaves a trail tragedy

The young miners trapped in the pit were among the numerous youths in Shiroro Local Government who, despite poor working conditions and insecurity, worked for local mining companies for meagre wages.

It’s difficult to estimate how long the trapped young men languished in excruciating pain before succumbing to death. Some victims’ relatives claimed they could still hear the victims groaning from beneath the deep pit days after the incident. They believed the young men would have been saved if the company had the necessary equipment or if there had been a swift intervention from the government.

Even after the government intervened, the rescue effort dragged on for nearly three months. Residents say while the survivors who managed to escape did so on their own; the lifeless bodies of the rest were returned to their grieving families.

“I had to be put on a saline drip when I returned to recover from the shock,” Isa continued, struggling to hold back tears as he narrated Abubakar’s death.

Even though his death leaves an indelible mark in his heart and he has found solace in the belief that his death is the will of Allah, he still believes that had proper precautions been put in place, the disaster could have been avoided.

“Unless you work there, you wouldn’t fully understand the conditions. But anyone who sees the site would realise that there were no proper safety measures. Instead of safely excavating the pit using machines, they just created a hole and allowed people to work in dangerous conditions,” Isa said.

Abubakar Bawa says his decision to grant his nephew’s wish to work at the mining site still haunts him in his dream. The 45-year-old didn’t know that decision would lead him to an untimely death.

Abbas Musa, 30, was a student at Amoko Community Secondary School in Shiroro. He came to stay with Bawa with dreams of furthering his education. His age did not deter him.  Eager to support his uncle and gain some financial independence before school resumed, Abbas took up a mining job at the site.

The tragic day was his first at the mining site and it turned out to be his last. As the pit began to crumble, Abbas, who barely knew his way around the pit, was one of the young men who couldn’t make it out of the pit. He died straight away after a massive rock fell on him. His lifeless body was the last to be recovered from the pit.

“It took us two months of back and forth before we were able to secure his body. We prayed on his corpse two weeks ago,” Bawa said in August lamenting over how the rescue operation was poorly executed.

It wasn’t long after Ibrahim Ishiaku Kuta left home when Safiya, his wife, received the devastating news that sank her heart and plunged her life into uncertainties and unending difficulties.

Earlier that day, she had woken up to make him a sumptuous breakfast. Kuta ate it hurriedly so as to arrive at the mining site in good time, not knowing he was in a hurry to meet his death.

“The news of his death came suddenly. They called and told us something had happened at his workplace. We were confused and we ran to the site but he was deep inside,” she recalled.

Until his death, Abubakar worked at the company for 18 years. Safiya and her co-wife relied entirely on him to sustain the household, and his absence has left a huge void. The six children he left behind are still growing up, and the distraught widows know that it will be a tough journey without their father.

Protracted rescue mission dashed hopes 

Ultimately, African Minerals and Logistics Limited,  the state and federal government agencies’ failed rescue operations dashed any hope of the victim’s survival. For months, they kept giving excuses for their failure to rescue the victims or recover the bodies.

Police stated that it was delayed due to lack of equipment from the site and the presence of heavy rocks and rumbles. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs cited insecurity and difficult terrain as hindrances.

The ICIR also gathered that the operation had to be paused at some point after the cave was filled with water due to rainfall. Another portion of the pit also caved in during the rescue, forcing the rescuers to run for their lives. This shows the deadly nature of the pit.

Witnesses said they only deployed obsolete equipment and even manual labour to rescue their relatives trapped in the pit. They claimed that the victims who survived were out of sheer luck.

Saidu Sani, 33, is one of the lucky survivors. Due to growing financial responsibilities and insufficient income from his photography work, the indigene of Benue State and  father of two decided to take up a mining job at the site.

He is one of the few survivors who managed to wriggle out of the cave. The trauma and terror of fighting for his life after the mine crumbled around him still lives in his head.

On the day of the collapse, Saidu was inside the cave with his colleagues when disaster struck. Earlier, they had noticed that a part collapsed a night before but were assured it was a minor issue that would resolve itself. However, it was not long before their fear came true.

“I thank God it didn’t hit my head. It only fell on half of my body. I quickly escaped before it finally closed,” he recounted.

After narrowly escaping, Saidu was rushed to a clinic for initial treatment. But after he was hurriedly discharged, neither the company nor the government offered any assistance or showed him any support.

Saidu still struggles to sleep at night due to the pain sustained from the horrible incident that nearly claimed his life. His face looks pale, and his voice trembles while recounting his experience, still haunted by the trauma of the accident.

Good deed gone bad 

Unlike Saidu, Shamsu’s condition was more terrible. He spent three months fighting  for his life after sustaining injuries from the collapse without any support from the company until his death.

Shamsu was outside the pit when the disaster struck. Driven by instinct and emotion, he, along with others, rushed into the pit, determined to save their trapped colleagues. As he fought to save his colleagues, the gates of the pit, weakened by the chaos, caved, trapping him inside.

It required multiple surgeries to repair his leg, but his parents, who were peasant farmers, were handed the bill for these operations. However, they couldn’t afford the bill and opted to take Shamsu back home to the local bone setters since neither African Minerals and Logistics Ltd nor the state government came to his aid.

“They refused to take care of him at the hospital in Minna. They didn’t treat him, they just left him there. Because we couldn’t afford to pay the hospital bills and nobody came to support us, we later took him home,” his brother, Abubakar told The ICIR.

Shamsu was left wallowing in pain. As days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, his condition continued to deteriorate, his wounds became worse releasing horrendous pus and maggots. He later gave in to this infectious wound because of lack of medical care and attention.

‘Accidents happen across the world’ says African Minerals and Logistics Limited Company boss

African Minerals and Logistics Limited is a Nigerian mining company involved in operations across various parts of the country, including Niger State. Headquartered in Lagos, the company was incorporated in January 2003.

The directors of the company include Odoh Emmanuel who functions as the chief executive officer, Upelle Odoh Chinelo and Okono Adiko Ito.

Despite allegations of lack of adherence to safety measures, the CEO claimed the mining collapse is an accident that occurs everywhere in the world.

Before then this reporter visited the site of the company located in Zumba, Shiroro Local Government but it was closed down due to the incident as confirmed by security operatives at the site.

When contacted, Emmanuel refused to comment on The ICIR findings. Initially, he said it was because the company was still mourning the victims later, he said he was not feeling fine and finally, he said the company was not ready to give an official comment.

When asked when this reporter could reach out again, he said when the company is ready to speak on the matter, they would call for a press conference.

“Whenever we are ready, we will invite you. We are not going to have an individual press conference. We will invite all the stations, all the press houses for interviews. We will invite all of them. We have granted press conferences before and we are going to grant to the whole world including CNN not you alone,” he barked at the reporter.

When this reporter told him, he had some specific questions he intended to ask, he responded by saying “You will ask me when you come to the press conference. I’m not stopping you from doing your job. I have respected you enough. Send me your full details, we will call you.”

“We are not a hidden company. We are a licensed company. It’s an accident and it happens across the world. Even after our own, more than five have happened. We took the blame to do our job. Please don’t push us too far. Take it easy with us,” he said before he abruptly ended the call.

Peanut as compensation, FG’s elusive intervention

The families of the victims who spoke to The ICIR confirmed that the company offered them N200,000 each.

A few days after the incident, the minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake visited the site and announced a donation of N50 million to the victims’ families.

The minister, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, announced this at the Government House in Minna during a meeting with Governor Mohammed Bago and representatives of the affected communities.

The secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Gawu, said the governor had approved the compensation for the families of the victim and inaugurated a 13-man committee to oversee the disbursement of the funds to the victims’ families.

“The state government has approved N50 million as a relief for the families of victims of the collapsed mining pit in the Shiroro Local Government Area. We have also set up a 13-man committee to oversee the disbursement of the funds to the victims’ families,” he said.

However, the distraught families who spoke with this reporter said they had yet to receive any compensation from the government as of August ending when this reporter spoke with the victims’ families.

Host community accuses company of negligence, demands investigation

The district head, Umar Aliyu, expressed concerns about the situation of families affected by the tragedy noting that the wives and children of the victims are traumatised by the loss of their loved ones.

He noted that the tragedy may force most children of the victims out of school due to the loss of their fathers, who were the primary breadwinners of their families.

He expressed concerns over the delay in the release of the N50 million compensation promised by the state government saying that it will be of help to the families of the victims, especially their wives and children.

Source: Niger state government/The ICIR findings

Meanwhile, the Niger State chapter of the Federation of Nigeria Mining Host Communities has threatened to take legal action against the company.

In a widely circulated communiqué signed by Habibu Wushishi, state coordinator and national co-chair and Mohammed Mohammed, state secretary, said it will in collaboration with the officials of the Mines Workers Union of Nigeria, the state’s ministry of Mineral Resources, Environment and other stakeholders investigate the level of exploitation of locals by mining companies in the state.

“If the company is found culpable of using host community members and they form part of the victims, the federation will seek for assistance from its secretariat (Global Rights) to push for proper investigation, arraignment and prosecution of the management of Africa Minerals and Logistics Limited and seek for compensation for the victims to serve as deterrent to other companies in Niger State and the nation as a whole,” the communique read in part.

State government blames mining company

The director of mining operations Niger State ministry of mineral resources, Adamu Garba, confirmed that the failure of the mining company to adhere to safety measures might have led to the collapse of the mining pit.

“Of course, if there’s proper mining (safety measure), how will mine collapse? Then if the mine collapsed, it means it was not properly planned,” he told The ICIR

“We expect the mining company to do the right thing. At the proper mining site, you get a specialist to be guiding you and the collapse will not occur again. They need to put safety hazards into consideration.”

On why the company continued to operate despite suspension by the state government, he said the mining operation was suspended not banned. He said the  directive did not affect companies that have done profiling and secured a go-ahead from the federal government.

On how the state government intends to hold the mining company, he said, “We see it as an act of accident. How can we hold somebody accountable? What can we do then ? After all, people have died” adding that the state agency has little power to sanction the company under the mining act.

He added that the state government has inaugurated a task force to monitor mining activities in the state to prevent future occurrences.

As the distraught victims’ families battle pains and griefs left by the death of their loved ones, it appears there is no will by the government to investigate the incident and hold the company accountable.

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA

Author Page

Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.