At least 22 miners are feared dead after a mining pit collapsed at an illegal site within a national game reserve spanning Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State.

Adamu Jamtare, a miner from Gashaka, stated that many of those affected were from Jamtare town in Gashaka LGA.

“They were mining gold in an area known as the Buffa zone within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which covers parts of both Gashaka and Toungo. All 22 miners trapped in the pit are presumed dead,” he said.

Chairman of Toungo LGA, Engineer Suleiman Toungo, confirmed the recovery of five bodies but was uncertain of the total number still buried. The miners, hailing from various parts of Nigeria including Zamfara and Adamawa, were involved in an incident that occurred nearly a month ago.

Despite ranger patrols in the area, illegal mining operations continue, often conducted clandestinely at night. “So far, five bodies have been recovered,” the chairman said.

The national game reserve, noted for its mineral resources, has witnessed multiple fatalities in recent years due to unregulated mining.

A resident of Tila village, speaking anonymously, revealed that approximately 70 miners lost their lives in similar incidents last year, with most of these tragedies going unreported.

Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed two recent reports of deaths due to pit collapses. In one incident, four miners died, while in another, two miners were killed, and four others sustained injuries.

SP Nguroje stated that police are collaborating with Gumti National Park authorities to apprehend the illegal miners involved.