Precious Anga
Lagos — Nine miners have died after heavy rainfall flooded a mining pit at Nahuta Village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred at Pit Three operated by contract miners working for Zurfi Mining Company in Gwana District.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Nafiu Habib, said the incident was reported by Kasim Abdulsalam, the company’s Purchase Manager, on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
According to Habib, the miners were working at the pit at about 7:45pm on September 25 when water flooded the site following heavy rainfall that began around 3pm.
He said some of the miners were initially rescued, while one of the workers, identified as Abner ‘M’, was electrocuted and taken to the General Hospital, Kashere, in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The medical team at the hospital later confirmed him dead.
“Consequently, the DPO Alkaleri led a team of detectives to the scene where three water pump generators were seen evacuating water from the pit to enable rescue of remaining victims,” Habib said.
He said rescue operations continued as efforts were made to remove the remaining miners trapped inside the flooded pit.
“Subsequently, on 28/09/2026 at about 1120hrs, Insp. Salisu Isah attached to Gwana Outstation, Alkaleri Division reported that at about 0620hrs of same date, the remaining eight victims were removed from the pit,” he said.
The eight miners were taken to the General Hospital, Kashere, where they were also confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
The deceased were identified as Hamidu Ali, 40, and Saidu Abubakar, 29, both from Nasarawa State; Olije Abdulrazak, 25, from Kogi State; Musa Abdullahi, 29, Abdulrahman Mu’azu, 23, and Jafar Abbas, 24, all from Bauchi State; Jose Ukese, 28, from Nasarawa State; and Haruna Alkali, 30, from Kebbi State.
The police said post-mortem examinations were conducted before the bodies were released to the victims’ relatives for burial in accordance with Islamic and Christian rites.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by workers operating in mining pits, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall, while police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths are continuing.
