Tragedy Strikes as Two Brothers Die in Niger Mine Collapse

Months after a tragic mine collapse in Shiroro, Niger State claimed the lives of several miners, another heartbreaking incident has occurred. This time, two brothers, Zubairu Ibrahim, 20, and Sadiq Ibrahim, 25, met their untimely end when the mine they were working in suddenly caved in on Saturday.

Reports indicate that the brothers left their home on the day of the incident without informing their parents of their intentions to join other miners in the search for solid minerals. Their absence went unnoticed until they failed to return home for dinner and evening prayers. Initially, their father, Ibrahim Zubairu, assumed they were with friends, only to later discover that his sons had ventured to a nearby mining site in hopes of striking gold. A community-wide search was quickly organized at the father's request. The search ended in tragedy when the lifeless bodies of the young men were found buried beneath the collapsed earth at the mine site.

The Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Resources confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Mrs. Maureen Dibie, on Tuesday. She stated that a team led by the Permanent Secretary, Yunusa Nahauni, visited the bereaved family on Sunday to offer condolences and conduct a fact-finding mission. The delegation included ministry directors, representatives from the Miners Association, and the Caretaker Chairman of the State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers.

During the visit, the devastated father mourned the loss of both sons in a single day, expressing his profound grief at the harsh reality of life without them. Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Nahauni conveyed deep sorrow over the tragedy, emphasizing that the disaster could have been prevented if the community had adhered to the Governor’s directive suspending all mining activities in the state.