A mining pit collapse in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, kills seven miners and injures others, reviving concerns over unsafe artisanal mining practices in the area.
Barkin Ladi, Plateau State — August 14, 2026
Seven miners have been killed after a mining pit collapsed on them at Kassa community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in an incident that occurred Wednesday evening.
According to a resident of the community, Albert Danlami, the pit caved in on the miners at around 7 p.m. while they were carrying out mining activities at the site. The victims became trapped underground following the collapse, prompting residents and fellow miners to launch rescue efforts.
Danlami said the collapse sent panic through the community, with residents rushing to the mining site as news of the incident spread. Some people were also reported injured in the collapse, in addition to those killed.
Rwang Tengwong, Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), confirmed the incident, stating that rescue efforts were made to reach the trapped miners, but all seven were found dead by the time they were recovered.
The tragedy adds to recurring safety concerns surrounding artisanal and informal mining activity across Plateau State, where unregulated tin, mineral, and quarry mining operations have periodically been linked to fatal pit collapses and other accidents.
The incident comes just days after separate reports highlighted growing concerns over the impact of expanding mining activity on the state's tourist sites, underscoring the broader tension between mining as an economic lifeline for many residents and the safety and environmental risks it carries.
As of this report, no state government or mining regulatory agency had issued an official statement on the collapse or on any safety measures to be taken in response.
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