Mine Site Collapse Kills 33 In Plateau
Mine Site Collapse….
No fewer than 33 persons have been killed in Plateau State as a result of collapsed mining sites in some communities within the past two months.
The Secretary of the Plateau Indigenous Miners Association, Barkin Ladi LGA, Pam Daniel, disclosed this in an interview with Charityreporters in Jos on Sunday, during an event organised for artisanal miners and farmers which held in the council area.
Daniel described the frequent collapse of mining sites in Barkin Ladi communities as worrisome, noting that the situation was posing a danger to the lives of the people particularly the youths in the council area.
The community leader added, “Many children no longer go to school in Barkin Ladi communities because of mining. This is not good for the growth and development of our society. And every year, we hear of huge amounts of money budgeted for mining but we the artisanal miners don’t benefit from it. That is why we are calling on the government to assist us. If they can’t assist us with funds to enhance our, they can assist us with the necessary equipment to minimise the dangers inherent in mining operations.
The Team Lead for Plateau Youth Climate Justice and Accountability Initiative, Daniel Mark, and the Project Officer, Opeyemi Osarumwense said the essence of organising the stakeholder’s engagement was to assess the challenges being faced by the people in the mining community to address them.
The Team Lead said, “As an organisation, we believe in advocating for solutions and one of those solutions is climate justice and sustainable mining practices within the community. From this meeting, we want the people to know that mining is not just done and the land is left degraded without reclamation. Because the vegetation is destroyed after mining, there should also be enforcement of tree planting to replace them. We are ready to work with the people to ensure that lives are not only saved but that climate justice is done in the mining community.”
The paramount ruler of Barkin Ladi, Edward Gyang Bot, thanked the non-governmental organisation for organising the event in the interest of his people.
“I believe when the right thing is done in our mining communities, our people will be happy and the society will be better for it”, the paramount ruler added.
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