Twenty persons have been confirmed dead from the collapsed mine in the Galkago community in the Shiroro district of Niger state; while 14 more persons are still trapped and awaiting rescue.
The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Shawulu Danmamman confirmed this during his visit to the mine site on Wednesday.
The incident which happened on Monday was believed to have been caused by the torrential rains which softened the soil.
Niger State Emergency Service Agency spokesman Hussaini Ibrahim had said one person was confirmed dead, several others were injured, while 30 persons including the site manager, were trapped as a mining pit collapsed.
The police commissioner during his inspection of the mine said that operators of the collapsed mining site operated without regard to safety measures and the welfare of the labourers.
The commissioner was accompanied by the state commissioner of Homeland Security, Bello Muhammad, and also the commissioner of solid minerals Garba Auna
The commissioner of Police Niger State Command Shawulu Danmamman and other government officials during a visit to the mine site
His inspection also revealed no ambulance or equipped medical kits were present in-situ as well as personnel to care for labourers in terms of emergencies.
Danmamman said that a formal investigation into the accident has commenced.
Rescue operations ongoing to save those trapped underground
