Over 100 Feared Dead After Gold Mine Collapse in Zamfara State
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu | Democracy Newsline Newspaper
September 27, 2025
Maru, Zamfara State —
At least 100 people are feared dead following the collapse of a gold mining pit in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, according to eyewitnesses and local residents.
The tragic incident occurred late Thursday night at the Kadauri mining site, where hundreds of artisanal miners were reportedly working underground when the pit suddenly caved in.
A resident of the area and member of the rescue team, Sanusi Auwal, told Democracy Newsline that 13 bodies had been recovered from the rubble so far — including that of his own brother.
> “More than 100 people were inside the mine when it collapsed,” he said, visibly shaken.
Ambassador Bala Ahmad, the Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZSEMA), confirmed the incident in Gusau on Friday. He said the collapse occurred at one of the traditional mining pits, but did not provide further details on casualties.
Community leaders in the area blamed the collapse on days of heavy rainfall, which they say saturated the soil and weakened the mining tunnels. Many believe the rainwater contributed significantly to the disaster, trapping dozens — if not hundreds — underground.
Rescue efforts are still ongoing, with local volunteers, emergency officials, and concerned residents digging through the debris in hopes of finding survivors. The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, but the death toll is expected to rise.
Injured victims are being transported to the Maru General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
As the community reels from the tragedy, authorities have called for stricter regulations and safety enforcement in the region’s unregulated mining sector, which continues to draw thousands of young men despite frequent accidents and fatalities.
