At least 13 people have died following the collapse of a mining site in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State. Dr. Joshua Riti, the Chairman of Bassa LGA, confirmed the tragic incident to the press on Monday, explaining that the collapse occurred last Saturday at a site located near the boundaries of Bassa, Jos South, and Jos North LGAs.

Among the victims, seven hailed from Bassa LGA. Dr. Riti expressed his deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting that the victims were young individuals, mostly between 18 and 30 years old, who were seeking a means of livelihood to cope with the economic hardships currently facing the country.

“This is an unfortunate incident. These young people were trying to make an honest living but tragically lost their lives,” Riti said. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, emphasizing the harsh realities many young people in Nigeria face.

The mining site collapse has sparked concern over the safety of informal mining activities in the region, which are often carried out without adequate regulations or safety measures.