Seven Miners Killed in Plateau Mining Pit Collapse, Renewing Urgent Calls for Safety Reform

Tragedy struck Kassa community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday evening when a mining pit collapsed, claiming the lives of seven miners and leaving several others injured. The incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. while the miners were actively working at the site, digging to extract minerals. A heap of sand caved in on the victims, trapping them underground and sending panic through the community as residents and fellow miners rushed to the scene. The collapse has once again highlighted the dangerous conditions faced by artisanal miners across Nigeria, many of whom operate without any formal safety equipment or regulatory oversight.

A community member, Albert Danlami, explained that the victims became trapped underground following the collapse, prompting immediate rescue efforts by residents and other miners working at the site. He recounted that the miners had been working at the site before the earth suddenly caved in on them, and confirmed that some persons were injured following the collapse. The Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident and provided the grim details of the rescue attempt. He explained that all seven victims died on the spot, despite swift efforts to reach them, and noted that they were among several miners at the site, but the victims were actually inside the mining pit when it caved in. Rescuers were immediately mobilised, but because the heap of sand was enormous, they were found dead when the diggers eventually reached them, underscoring the scale of the tragedy and the challenges faced by community-based rescue efforts.

The disaster has left Kassa community in deep mourning, with residents describing the loss as devastating and renewing calls for government action on mining safety and regulatory oversight. Community member Timothy Bako expressed grief over the deaths, saying that they were heartbroken because these were young men who went to work to feed their families. He noted that the pit was too deep and there were no safety measures, and called on government to come and regulate these mining sites before more lives are lost. Another resident, who asked not to be named, echoed similar frustrations, lamenting that every time they hear this kind of news, people are digging with bare hands and no support, and urged government and mining experts to step in to prevent this from happening again.

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This latest disaster adds to a growing list of fatal mining accidents across Nigeria, raising urgent questions about safety standards and the welfare of artisanal miners who often operate without formal employment contracts, health insurance, or occupational hazard coverage. The issue has become so recurrent that in July 2026, following a landslide at a coal mining site in Kogi State that claimed 20 workers, the Senate took decisive action. Lawmakers called for a nationwide audit of licensed miners and their operations by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, as well as the establishment of a statutory mining workers’ compensation scheme. The upper legislative chamber also urged the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to develop compulsory occupational accident insurance for all categories of miners, including artisanal and small-scale operators, to ensure families of victims receive financial protection when accidents occur. Senator Tahir Monguno, the Senate Chief Whip, described fatal mining accidents as a recurring problem across the country, noting that the issue of mining collapse has become a recurring decimal with the attendant and concomitant effects of deaths, injuries and what have you to miners across the nook and crannies of the country in mining communities.

Community leaders are now urging the Plateau State Government and relevant agencies to step in with immediate support for the bereaved families, while pushing for stronger safety regulations to be enforced across mining sites in the local government area. The Senate’s proposed Mine Rehabilitation and Victims Support Fund, which would provide emergency medical treatment, compensation, educational support for children of deceased miners, and livelihood assistance to affected families, has yet to be implemented. As of Thursday morning, authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the latest incident in Barkin Ladi, but community leaders are pressing for urgent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse to prevent further loss of life. The tragedy in Kassa serves as yet another grim reminder that without decisive government action, more families will continue to lose their loved ones to preventable mining accidents across Nigeria.

Seven Miners Killed in Plateau Mining Pit Collapse, Renewing Urgent Calls for Safety Reform

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

The Presidency has announced that the window for public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5 PM today, Thursday, August 13, 2026. Nigerians have until the deadline to contribute their views on the proposed legislation, a key component of the Federal Government’s efforts to establish state police across the country. The closure marks the end of an intensive public consultation period that has seen citizens, civil society organisations, and security experts weigh in on what could become one of the most transformative security reforms in Nigeria’s history.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed the deadline on Wednesday and urged citizens, professionals, and stakeholders to take advantage of the final opportunity to shape the proposed framework. The public consultation, launched on August 3 alongside the nationalpolicingbill.com platform, was deliberately opened while critical decisions were still being made, allowing professional expertise and lived experiences to influence the drafting process before the executive proposal is finalised. Gbajabiamila emphasised that this was not a mere token exercise but a genuine effort to ensure that the final bill reflects the aspirations and concerns of everyday Nigerians who would be most affected by the establishment of state police.

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One of the most persistent fears surrounding the state police proposal has been the possibility of political interference, and Gbajabiamila addressed this head-on, acknowledging that state governors could misuse state-controlled police forces against political opponents, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities. He emphasised that the proposed framework must contain strong protections against abuse and that the law must be designed in a way that makes it difficult for political officeholders to bend police operations to their will. “The concern that governors might use state police against political opponents, minority communities or dissenting voices is serious and must be answered in the design of the law,” Gbajabiamila stated. He stressed that the proposed law must make “unlawful orders easier to resist, misconduct easier to investigate, and political interference harder to hide,” while also ensuring that citizens have access to credible complaints and independent oversight mechanisms. Officers, he added, must be properly recruited, trained, equipped, and supervised to maintain professional standards across all state police services.

Despite the progress made on the proposed National Policing Bill, Gbajabiamila clarified that state police cannot be established immediately and that significant constitutional hurdles remain. Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution currently provides for only one police force—the Nigeria Police Force—meaning a constitutional amendment is required before states can establish separate police services. Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed constitutional amendments providing for a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, but the process is not yet complete. The amendments must complete remaining legislative stages in the National Assembly, then be approved by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, and finally receive presidential assent. Gbajabiamila explained that “the constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” underscoring the need for complementary legislation to fill in the operational details.

The Presidential Working Group is preparing the National Policing Bill to run alongside the constitutional amendment process, and the proposed legislation would establish national minimum standards covering a wide range of operational areas. These include recruitment, vetting, and training; remuneration, pensions, and equipment; professional conduct and discipline; use of force and complaints mechanisms; independent oversight; intelligence-sharing and cooperation between federal and state police services; and sustainable funding arrangements. The draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, as part of a seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14. This timeline reflects the administration’s determination to move swiftly on the reform while ensuring that all necessary safeguards are built into the legislative framework before transmission to the National Assembly.

Gbajabiamila stressed that even after the constitutional amendment and National Policing Bill become law, state police will not automatically be established across all 36 states, as each state that chooses to establish a service will still need its own enabling law, institutions, and funding. It must also meet the national conditions for operation before its officers can begin policing, ensuring that no state rushes into establishing a police force without the necessary capacity and oversight mechanisms in place. States that are not ready or willing to establish their own police services would continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force, guaranteeing that no citizen is left without policing coverage during the transitional period.

Gbajabiamila said the reform aims to build a policing system that is “closer, faster and better informed by local conditions,” with officers familiar with a community’s language, geography, and crime patterns better positioned to gather intelligence and respond effectively to local security challenges. However, he maintained that the new system must not sacrifice citizens’ rights, cautioning that “proximity does not guarantee justice.” He insisted that the law must protect citizens regardless of who holds office, and that it must protect opposition parties, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities from potential abuses of power. The consultation will complement, rather than replace, the role of the National Assembly, which retains the power to scrutinise, amend, reject, or pass the Bill when transmitted. As the 5 PM deadline approaches, Nigerians are being reminded that their voices remain essential in shaping a reform that could redefine the relationship between citizens and the security apparatus for generations to come.

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

Kwara police arrest suspected kidnapper while withdrawing ransom at POS

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate operating around the Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area after tracking him to a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal where he was allegedly attempting to withdraw ransom proceeds linked to a recent abduction.

The suspect, identified as Muhamodu Sanni, was intercepted by police operatives during an intelligence-led investigation into the abduction of three people during an armed attack on Obudu Village on July 28, 2026.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, saying investigators expanded the operation beyond the scene of the attack to uncover the communication, logistics and financial channels allegedly supporting the kidnapping operation.

According to the command, intelligence gathered around the movement of the ransom payment eventually led operatives to Sanni at the POS terminal.

The police said the suspect was arrested while allegedly attempting to withdraw money connected to the ransom paid for the release of the kidnapped victims.

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The command said the development demonstrated the importance of investigating the financial trail associated with kidnapping operations, rather than focusing solely on the immediate perpetrators of an abduction.

“Rather than limit operational efforts to the immediate scene of the attack, investigators widened the scope of investigation to the communication, logistics and financial channels sustaining the criminal operation,” the statement said.

Police said Sanni cooperated with investigators during interrogation and allegedly provided information about his role in the collection of the ransom.

His disclosures reportedly led investigators to other suspected members of the network, identified as Aminu and Umar.

The command said further intelligence and operational leads were being pursued as investigators work to establish the wider structure of the suspected kidnapping network and identify other people allegedly involved in the operation.

The arrest comes amid continued security concerns over kidnapping and other violent crimes in parts of Kwara State, with security agencies increasingly relying on intelligence-led operations to identify criminal networks and disrupt their sources of funding and logistical support.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would continue to target criminal networks and dismantle the structures supporting their operations.

Adekimi also urged residents to support security agencies by providing timely, credible and actionable information that could assist in preventing crime, locating suspects and protecting communities.

The command said the operation was being conducted in line with the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

Police said efforts were ongoing to track down other suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping syndicate and bring them before the law.

The command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or information that could assist ongoing investigations.

Kwara police arrest suspected kidnapper while withdrawing ransom at POS