A tragic mining accident has occurred in the Dura community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, where four miners lost their lives after a mining site collapsed.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident happened on Thursday night when the ground collapsed on four individuals working in the pit.

A resident of the community, Chuwang Davou, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday.

Davou said “Yes, we have a tragic situation in Dura community. A mining site collapsed last night. I don’t know the casualty figure, but I can confirm to you that some people were inside the pit.”

Contacted, an aide to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Artisanal Mining, Solomon Dung, provided more details on the incident.

He said, “It happened yesterday at Dura community. From what I was told, some boys were working in a mining pit, and the ground just collapsed on four of them.

“Three died instantly, and one other person was taken to the hospital, and unfortunately, he also died. I am just going to the community as I speak to you.”

The Plateau State Police Command’s spokesman, Alabo Alfred, was unreachable for comment, as his mobile phone was switched off at the time of contact.

The latest tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by artisanal miners in Plateau communities and underscores the need for improved safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.

On Thursday, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund and the University of Jos called on stakeholders in the mining sector to embrace modern mining practices in a bid to curb insecurity in the country and develop the sector.

Speaking during the two-day capacity-building workshop for miners in Plateau State, themed “Enhancing Safety, Sustainability, and Community Development in Mining”, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Galadima, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, maintained that adherence to international standards and best practices can significantly reduce insecurity issues in mining communities.

“While security is a broader issue, PTDF’s role is to ensure miners are trained on best practices and safety standards. Once the standards and best practices are followed, many of the security issues will be reduced,” Galadima said. (The PUNCH)