The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has called for an immediate investigation into the mine collapse incident which has led to the loss of lives at a mining site located within a national game reserve spanning Gashaka Local Government Area LGA in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State.
Reports showed that at least 22 miners were feared dead as they were trapped in the pit when the mine collapsed.
According to a news report, the Chairman of Toungo LGA, Engineer Suleiman Toungo, confirmed that five miners had been found dead, though he was uncertain of the exact number still buried.
He said the incident, involving miners from various parts of Nigeria, including Zamfara and Adamawa, occurred in October.
Responding to the incident, Mr Philip Jakpor, the Executive Director of RDI said the mine collapse incident and needless deaths in the national game reserve area spanning Gashaka and Toungo LGAs in Taraba and Adamawa states respectively is one incident too many.
Jakpor recalled that similar incidents occurred recently in Shiroro in Niger State and called for proper oversight functions in mining communities.
Jakpor said, “We have said it time and again that proper oversight functions are practically non-existent in communities where solid minerals are extracted.
“Unregulated mining perpetrated by foreign nationals, especially the Chinese and their local collaborators, is responsible for a growing number of deaths of school-age children. It is unacceptable.”
He thereafter called on the government to “investigate the incident and bring the operators of the illegal mines to book.”
The national game reserve, known for its mineral resources, has seen multiple fatalities over recent years.