BREAKING: Suspected toxic gas kills dozens at Plateau mining site

An unconfirmed number of persons have reportedly died following suspected toxic gas exposure at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, raising fresh concerns over unsafe mining practices in the area.

The Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, said he received an early-morning call alerting him to the tragedy because of his role in the community.

“It happened at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government. We got information that the miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly,” Sambo said during a phone interview.

He added that several other miners were rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment, though the exact number of survivors was unclear as of press time.

According to Sambo, the affected youths were mining zinc on behalf of a company reportedly owned by Chinese interests operating in the area. The specific mineral involved had not been independently confirmed.

Following the incident, troops of the Nigerian Army were deployed to the site. The soldiers reportedly cordoned off the area to prevent further access and possible exposure.

> “The army has since gone there and cordoned off the place to stop people from having access and also to stop the spread,” Sambo stated.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the state government were unsuccessful. Calls to the Plateau State Commissioner for Environment, Peter Gwom, and the Chairman of Wase Local Government Area, Hamisu Anani, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has reignited public concern over artisanal and company-backed mining activities in rural communities, where safety standards, environmental oversight, and emergency preparedness are often limited.

Residents are urging the Plateau State Government and relevant federal agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, ensure accountability, and enforce stricter safety regulations to prevent further loss of life.