A catastrophic windstorm wreaked havoc at the Agoi Ibami Mining Site in Nko, Yakurr Local Government Area, claiming the lives of seven miners on Friday evening.
The disaster struck during a heavy downpour at approximately 6:40 p.m. on May 3, when a massive tree collapsed onto the workers’ operational area, trapping them beneath its weight, GRASSROOT REPORTERS reports.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command disclosed that the victims included two nationals from the Republic of Chad, identified as Vone Ali Usman and Adamu Ciroma, alongside five Nigerians from Zamfara State: Aliyu Hassan, Ibrahim Sule, Hassan Umaru, Mohammed Idris, and Aliyu Ibrahim.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as the sudden storm battered the site, with the uprooted tree leaving no escape for the miners. “The rain was fierce, and the wind was like a hurricane. Before we knew it, the tree came down,” said a survivor who requested anonymity.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo, stated that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the incident and evaluate potential safety lapses. “We are collaborating with local authorities and the mining company to prevent future occurrences,” she added.
The tragedy has sparked outrage among residents, with community leaders calling for stricter enforcement of safety protocols at mining sites. “This is a wake-up call. These miners risk their lives daily; the government must act,” declared Chief Ekpenyong Bassey, a prominent leader in Yakurr.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Cross River State Command, in collaboration with the Federal Mines Office and the State Taskforce on Illegal Mining, arrested 10 suspected illegal miners during a weekend raid at another site in Agoi Ibami community.
Parading the suspects, NSCDC State Commandant, Dr. Charles Brown, revealed that nine hailed from Zamfara State and one from Kaduna State.
He described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to protect critical national assets, noting it was the fourth such arrest in recent weeks.
Dr. Brown lamented the alarming influx of northern youths into Cross River State, warning of potential security risks. “These individuals lack traceable identities, which complicates accountability. Without urgent stakeholder collaboration, we risk replicating Zamfara’s security crisis here,” he told journalists.
The Federal Mines Office and State Taskforce vowed to intensify crackdowns on illegal mining, pledging to prosecute the suspects in line with the law.
The bodies of the deceased miners have been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary in Ugep, as families and colleagues mourn the devastating loss.
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