A mining pit collapsed in Tangur community, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing four miners on September 22, 2026. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. while the victims were working inside the tunnel. The victims included two men and two women. According to Christopher Luka, a youth leader in Bokkos, the pit collapse was a tragic event that resulted in the loss of four lives.
The victims were engaged in sand excavation from a pit located around a riverbank in the community. The bodies were recovered on the same day as the incident. Luka further stated that one of the victims was buried on September 22, as he was a Muslim, while the other three were buried on September 23, as they were Christians. The community is still reeling from the shock of the incident.
This incident is not an isolated case, as many miners have lost their lives due to pit collapses in the region. Despite the state government's ban on illegal mining, people continue to engage in the activity. On August 13, 2026, seven miners lost their lives after a mining pit collapsed at Kassa community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Plateau State government has been working to restore law and order in the affected areas. Recently, the government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Mangu, Bokkos, and Barikin Ladi LGAs. However, the curfew has not been effective in preventing attacks and killings. In a recent incident, three persons were reportedly killed around the Kyikyau–Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) has expressed concern over the effectiveness of the curfew. According to the movement, the curfew has not been able to protect the communities, as armed criminals continue to move and attack during the restricted hours. The MYM questioned the purpose of the curfew if it cannot protect law-abiding citizens.
The National President of Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, has condemned the incident, describing it as dangerous. He noted that the curfew is not working with lawless persons, as they take advantage of the situation to invade and attack communities. Dabit called for a more effective security measure to protect the communities.
The spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, has acknowledged the inquiry but did not provide further information. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of miners and the effectiveness of the government's measures to prevent such incidents. The community is still mourning the loss of the four miners.
Key points
- Four miners were killed in a pit collapse in Tangur community, Plateau State, on September 22, 2026.
- The incident is not an isolated case, as many miners have lost their lives due to pit collapses in the region.
- The Plateau State government's imposed curfew has not been effective in preventing attacks and killings in the affected areas.
