14 People still Trapped in Collapsed Mine Site in Niger
From PAULINE PODKA, Abuja
Reports said about 14 people were still trapped in a mine site in Niger State that collapsed on Monday.
The figures were confirmed by the State Ministry of Mining Resources, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and the Niger State Police Command through their various officials.
The state Ministry of Mineral Resources has also released the names of those who were trapped inside the mine.
The names were Abdullahi Yahaya, Ibrahim Mansir, Abubakar Isah, Friday Musa, Godwin Hussaini, Benjamin Ashafa, Zayyanu Ibrahim, Abdul Ali, Hamza Musa, Umar Abubakar, Joseph Madaki, Ibrahim I. Ishiaku Kuta, Abbas Musa and Yakubu Mamman.
Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Mineral Resources, Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni, said that the Ministry is working with relevant authorities and rescue teams to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining trapped individuals, saying that updates would be provided as the situation unfolds.
Also, the Niger State Police Command said that the rescue operation was delayed due to a lack of equipment from the site and the heavy rumbles from the rock.
The Police Command added that more equipment have been brought to help the rescue operation.
It would be recalled that when the incident occurred on Monday, 20 people were confirmed dead from the collapsed mine in the Galkago community in the Shiroro district of Niger State.
The Commissioner of Police Niger State Command, Shawulu Danmamman, who visited the mine site on Wednesday, disclosed this to journalists.
Pentoks News gathered that incident was believed to have been caused by the torrential rains which softened the soil.
Ends.