Four women die in Bauchi as mining site collapses
A tragedy befell the rural settlement of Gudum Sayawa in Bauchi state, as a mining site collapsed, leading to the death of four women. The devastating incident has left the community mourning and raised concerns about the safety of unregulated mining activities.
Gudum Sayawa, predominantly an agrarian community, recently turned to mining to supplement their livelihood due to poor harvests in recent years. The increased mining activities, primarily involving women and children, have become a means of survival in the face of economic hardship.
Reports indicate that the cave collapsed, tragically claiming the lives of three women instantaneously, with one more succumbing to her injuries a week later in the hospital.
An eyewitness described how the women were unable to escape the cave site in time, leading to the tragic outcome.
This is not the first time such a calamity has occurred in the region. In 2023, a mining site in Bar Kudu claimed the lives of three women and left others injured, highlighting the recurring dangers associated with unregulated mining activities.
Mathias Mamaki and his mother, the two survivors of the tragedy, along with Musa, who is also at the mining site, gave an account of what happened at this mining site in Rafin Tambari in Bauchi State.
Musa said that the high level of poverty is one of the major reasons that is pushing hundreds of people to troop to the mining site to dig monoxide to earn a living.
In one of the houses of a victim who died during the incident, her husband, Iliya Gambar, described the shocking story of his wife as most devastating to him, coming at a time that was least expected.
This is a sad moment for the families of the deceased, who are thrown into mourning. To many, this will serve as a reminder of the dangers that come with working on a local illegal mining site.
Authorities have been advised to provide measures that will, however, curtail such incidences.
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Meanwhile, residents of the community have appealed to the federal and state governments to provide them with alternative sources of livelihood as unregulated mining activities have led to the loss of lives, while others have suffered various degrees of injuries at the mining site 800 metres away from the community.
While reacting to the recent disaster, a community leader, Daniel Iliya, who is the Galadima of Gudum Sayawa, confirmed the incident, describing it as “most horrible and unfortunate.”
According to him, “We need the government to come and assess the mining sites to see if it is safe for artisanal miners to work there, so we don’t lose our villagers again. If that is done, it will reduce the risks associated with mining operations.
He opines that the removal of fuel subsidy compelled them to engage in unregulated mining activities in the area, which has led to the death of four people, with several others still receiving treatment.
Family members of the affected victims also shared their thoughts, saying that the current high cost of living necessitated their actions to jump into mining activities as a means of survival since the fuel price is no longer stable, which affected their business struggle for daily bread.
Jonah Saraki and Mary Jonah are the parents of one of the Victims, They shared their thoughts, describing the incident as worrisome despite fetching income for the immediate family to reduce the high cost of living currently in the country.
The bereaved parents said, “We cautioned some of them at the site to be on alert so that if they sense any danger, they can leave immediately.
Mining is helping us a lot because some of our people have started reaping the benefits through several means, as those who barely afford food can now do so.”
They added that “we and our children go to the mining site and dig for precious stones. Since the cost of living has shot up, we have no choice; our husbands cannot afford to foot our bills anymore, leaving us with no choice.”
Saraya Audu, a miner and mother of many children who were among those involved in the early discovery of monoxide at the mining site, narrates her experience as a mixed one.
According to her, “After discovering the mine site, our people shifted to mining immediately. I joined them last year, but while working at the site, I got fractured.
“The proceeds from mining are helping us and our family members, especially some of us who have plenty of children.”
At the mining site and separation area, operators said at least 100 people go there on a daily basis to mine different minerals, such as monoxide, zaicon, and other precious stones, for transactions with other business communities as a source of income.
Efforts to get the reaction of the concerned authorities failed, as no official at both the Federal and Bauchi State Ministries of Mines was ready to comment on the tragedy as of the time of filling out this report on Tuesday.
