The death toll from recent mining accidents in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State has risen to 32 with the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) revealing that three separate incidents occurred within weeks across different communities.
The union disclosed that the deadliest incident occurred on July 10, 2026, in Alufele, where 30 miners were buried following a mine collapse.
According to the NUMW National President, Comrade Hamza Muhammad, 27 of the victims were labourers, while the remaining victims were members of the Igala host community.
He said two additional fatal mining incidents were also recorded recently—one in Odagbo and another in Enjema—with one miner killed in each accident. Muhammad noted that such accidents had become a recurring occurrence in the area, underscoring the urgent need for stronger safety measures across Nigeria’s mining sector.
In a chat with our correspondent on Friday, Hamza said the union received with “deep sorrow, pain and shock” reports and video evidence of the tragedies, describing the deaths as a national loss.
“This is not just a loss to the families. It is a loss to the entire nation, the labour movement, the mining industry and the country. Our hearts bleed with you,” he said.
The union extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the repose of the deceased, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
In reaction to the incidents, the NUMW called on the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to launch a comprehensive investigation into the accidents and ensure strict enforcement of occupational health and safety standards at mining sites nationwide.
“Safety is not negotiable,” the union stressed.
The union also urged the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to work with it and other stakeholders to establish a national database of mine workers, saying such a system would ensure miners are properly registered, insured and easily traceable for welfare, compensation and emergency response.
It further appealed to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Solid Minerals to sponsor legislation compelling all mining companies operating in Nigeria to register their workers with both the union and a Federal Government database.
According to the union, the proposed legislation should also impose stiff penalties on operators that violate safety regulations or fail to protect the lives of workers.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. The life of every mine worker matters,” the union said.
Reaffirming its commitment to the victims and their families, the NUMW pledged to pursue justice for those affected and continue advocating stronger workplace safety measures across the country’s mining industry.
