At least 37 people died and 26 others were hospitalized after a toxic gas leak at a mine in north-central Nigeria, police said. The incident took place early Tuesday in Kampani Zurak community in the Wase area of Plateau state, according to police spokesperson Alfred Alabo, reports UNB. The bodies of the victims have been handed over to their families for burial in line with their religious customs. Authorities have shut down the mining site, and an investigation into the cause of the leak is ongoing. Nigeria has been grappling with illegal gold mining activities for years, with hundreds of fatalities reported in related incidents.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 19, 2026 10:30 UTC