Nigeria: Suspected Toxic Gas Blast Kills 37 in Mining Site

A suspected toxic gas explosion at a zinc mining site in Plateau State has intensified scrutiny of safety practices in Nigeria’s resource sector, exposing the risks facing workers in remote extraction zones.

Eyewitnesses and local leaders said at least 37 people died after miners were exposed to a lethal gas deep inside a tunnel at Company Zurak in Wase Local Government Area. Several others were rescued alive and taken to nearby hospitals.

Shafi Sambo, Wase Youth Leader, described the incident as immediate and catastrophic.

We got information that the miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly.

Wase Youth Leader Shafi Sambo

Conflicting Casualty Figures Emerge

While community sources cited 37 fatalities, Plateau State’s preliminary briefing referenced approximately 33 persons inside the tunnel at the time of the blast.

In an official statement, Commissioner for Information and Communication Joyce Lohya Ramnap said the government received reports of a “tragic explosion at a mining site in Kampani Zurak.” She added: “About 33 persons were said to have been inside the mining tunnel at the time of the explosion. Sadly, many lives are feared lost.”

Such discrepancies are common in the early stages of industrial disasters, particularly in rural areas where formal documentation of workforce numbers may be limited.

Authorities have not yet issued a consolidated casualty count.

Security Lockdown and Site Control

Security forces moved quickly to secure the perimeter. Sambo said, “The army has since gone there and cordoned off the place,” citing efforts to prevent unauthorized access and ensure public safety.

Local residents described scenes of panic. Joseph Ogah, who visited the area, said: “It was sudden. One moment they were working, the next we heard cries and saw people falling. It was terrible.” He added that “some people are still unaccounted for.”

Regulatory and Environmental Response

Nigeria’s federal authorities ordered an immediate halt to mining operations in the affected zone. According to the Plateau State government, Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas Lawal directed the “immediate and total shutdown of all mining activities” pending further investigations.

A “high-powered team of experts” from Abuja was scheduled to arrive the following day to assess environmental and safety conditions.

Ramnap said the government was working with “relevant security agencies, emergency responders, and health authorities” to stabilize the situation, provide treatment for the injured, and secure the site.

Safety Standards Under Renewed Focus

The disaster has revived longstanding concerns about mining oversight, ventilation controls, and environmental compliance. Nigeria’s mining sector has expanded in recent years, driven by demand for solid minerals such as zinc, gold, and lithium.

However, enforcement of occupational safety regulations remains uneven, particularly in semi-formal and privately operated sites.

Hazards linked to underground mining - including toxic gas accumulation, structural instability, and inadequate protective equipment - have been repeatedly flagged by labor groups and safety experts.

The Plateau incident is likely to amplify calls for stricter inspections, improved reporting standards, and clearer accountability mechanisms for operators.