Tragedy struck Galkogo village in Niger‘s Shiroro Local Government Area on Monday when a mine caved in, claiming one life, injuring several others, and leaving over 30 individuals buried under the rubble.
On Tuesday, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Ara, head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), issued a statement in Minna, shedding light on the latest developments.
The director-general stated that NSEMA was alerted to a mining site collapse in Galkogo village, Shiroro, on June 3, kickstarting a rapid response operation.
He said, “One person has been confirmed dead, six persons rescued with severe injuries while more than 30 people were still being trapped.”
According to Baba-Ara, the mine collapse was triggered by intense rainfall, which compromised the soil’s stability and led to the devastating incident.
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The director-general revealed that the rescue operation was temporarily suspended after the team was compelled to flee the site due to the ongoing collapse, which posed a significant risk to their safety.
He also noted that the agency had yet to get full details on rescue operations due to insecurity in the area.
Despite the challenges, Baba-Ara announced that heavy machinery, including excavators, had been dispatched to the site to facilitate the rescue efforts and ensure a swift recovery.
According to Baba-Ara, the agency’s emergency lines have been flooded with reports of relentless bandit raids in Shiroro and Mashegu, prompting heightened concern for the safety of residents.
On June 2, bandits allegedly stormed Adogo Malam village, perpetrating a vicious assault that resulted in the abduction of six villagers, a grim testament to the region’s ongoing struggle with lawlessness.
In a chilling escalation of violence, bandits reportedly swooped down on Tunga Kawo, a community adjacent to Erena, kidnapping over 20 people and making off with a substantial number of cattle, leaving devastation in their wake.