The team, according to the statement, includes experts in mining, environmental compliance and artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives. “The team also includes experts in mining, environmental compliance and artisanal cooperatives. The area, it was gathered, was an abandoned lead mining site containing mineral deposits prone to emissions of sulphuric oxide gas. The tragedy highlights the growing risks associated with abandoned mining pits across Nigeria, especially in rural communities where economic hardship pushes residents into informal mining without adequate safety awareness. Nigeria’s mining industry has witnessed renewed government attention under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which has intensified efforts to formalise artisanal mining, enforce environmental compliance and attract foreign investment.

Source: Punch February 18, 2026 19:46 UTC