A month after the collapse of a mining pit in the Galkogo, Shiroro local government area of Niger State, the state chapter chairman of Nigeria Miners Association, Yusuf Shu’aibu Mami, has said the number of those under the pits could not be ascertained but confirmed the recovery of five more bodies.

He said that contrary to the 30 people officially given, the number of casualties in the pits is higher than that, considering the number of labourers often engaged by the mining companies on most sites.

Mami told LEADERSHIP in an interview after a visit to the ongoing rescue operations at the collapsed mining pit that seven people had been rescued so far.

He said, “After one month, seven people have been rescued, two on the day of the incident and five about four days ago; they are saying that over 30 people were trapped in the pit, but from every indication, they may be more than that.

“Unfortunately, the only person that could ascertain the figures of those trapped would have been the site manager, but he is also among the victims,” he added.

Mami said evacuating the trapped bodies was slow and, therefore, solicited the support of multinational companies in the operation.

He lamented that after mining licences are issued in the country, there is insufficient manpower to monitor the companies for safety and security compliance.

The chairman said most mining companies engaged the people of the host communities as labourers, not full-time workers, negating their safety for immediate monetary gains.

He, therefore, urged the government to fast-track the process of evacuating the trapped bodies and, for future purposes, ensure strict monitoring for safety compliance in all mining sites across the country.