A 35-year-old miner, identified as Ibrahim Jabir, has died after a mining pit collapsed in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, trapping Jabir inside the collapsed pit.

A Jos East resident, Peter Ajik, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos on Monday, said the miner died at the scene.

“The victim, Ibrahim Jabir, died in the incident. The incident happened around 12:10 a.m. when the mining pit collapsed,” Ajik said.

He described the incident as another reminder of the dangers associated with mining activities, particularly in areas where adequate safety measures are not observed.

Ajik called on miners to prioritise safety precautions and urged relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of mining operations across the area to prevent further accidents.

He also disclosed that security operatives responded to a distress call following the collapse.

“We are appealing to the relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of mining activities in the area and ensure that safety measures are strictly observed to prevent further loss of lives,” he said.

Efforts to reach security operatives for further details were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has renewed concerns over safety practices in mining communities, where inadequate monitoring and failure to observe established safety standards can expose miners to serious risks.

A mother of two and her newborn baby have narrowly escaped death after a fire outbreak destroyed properties and damaged several buildings in the Oloje Phase II area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, reportedly started around 2am at Oloje Housing Estate, leaving residents scrambling to rescue occupants and prevent the flames from spreading to neighbouring properties.

One of the affected residents, Aisha Suleiman, recounted how she woke up to an unusual electrical sound coming from beneath her freezer before discovering that the appliance was on fire.

Muhammed also urged members of the public to report fallen electricity poles, damaged installations and exposed transmission lines promptly to the relevant authorities.

The fire service commended community members who assisted in rescuing the occupants of the affected apartment, particularly the family with a newborn baby

The Oloje incident occurred less than 24 hours after another fire outbreak destroyed a building containing three-bedroom flats in Kangile Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area, on Monday.

A 25-year-old man detained over a civil debt dispute was among the 33 persons who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, a Federal Government investigative panel has revealed.

The deceased, identified as Emmanuel Emeka, was reportedly arrested on September 12, 2026, over a debt recovery matter involving Okoma Pharmacy Ltd., Minna.

According to the panel’s report submitted to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday, Emeka remained in custody until his death between September 16 and 17, alongside suspected illegal miners.

The committee described his arrest and detention as unlawful, noting that he was held without a warrant over a civil dispute that did not justify his continued incarceration.

The report raised concerns about the conduct of the NSCDC officers involved and recommended further investigations into the circumstances surrounding Emeka’s arrest and death.

It specifically identified the alleged roles of the pharmacy proprietor, Dr Wilfred Ugwu, and the NSCDC Area Command in Mokwa as requiring further examination.

The panel identified Deputy Superintendent of Corps Musa Marafa of the NSCDC Tracking Unit as the officer who arrested Emeka, while the Head of the Investigation Unit, Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadare, reportedly authorised his detention.

It recommended that the officers and other individuals connected to the incident be investigated to establish responsibility and ensure accountability.

The report stated, “DSC Musa Marafa unlawfully arrested and detained Emmanuel Emeka in relation to a civil debt dispute, contributing directly to his continued unlawful detention until death, along with the arrested miners.”

The committee added that some detainees had been held beyond legally permitted detention periods, including Emeka, whose case had no connection with illegal mining.

14 minors among 33 dead detainees
The panel also disclosed that 14 of the 33 deceased detainees were minors, with some as young as 11 years old.

They were reportedly detained alongside adults in an approximately 12-square-metre cell with poor ventilation.

According to the report, about 50 male detainees were confined in the facility, which NSCDC officers acknowledged was unsuitable for such a large number of occupants.

The cell reportedly lacked adequate ventilation, running water and proper lighting, while its toilet was non-functional.

The committee attributed the deaths to environmental asphyxia, acute respiratory failure, heat stress and dehydration, dismissing the disease outbreak initially announced by the suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye Siyaka.

It maintained that the deaths were preventable and could have been avoided through adequate ventilation, timely intervention and emergency medical assistance.

Officers allegedly ignored distress calls
The report stated that the deaths occurred between 8pm on September 16 and 7am on September 17, after detainees repeatedly shouted for help, banged on the cell doors and pleaded for water.

However, their distress signals were allegedly ignored by the officers responsible for supervising the facility.

“The officers responsible for the cell failed to open it or arrange emergency assistance despite repeated warnings that the detainees were in distress,” the report stated.

One of the officers on night duty, Assistant Superintendent of Corps Hassan Mohammed, reportedly admitted hearing desperate cries and wailing from the detainees but did not open the cell.

He reportedly explained that he acted on instructions from his superior, Superintendent of Corps Usman Ndamaka, who allegedly directed that the cell should not be opened without armed backup.

The committee further alleged that Ndamaka had instructed officers not to open the cell under any circumstances, fearing that the detainees’ commotion could be an attempted escape.

He also reportedly failed to respond to an emergency call from Hassan on the night of the incident.

Medical warning ignored
The investigative panel further revealed that an NSCDC medical personnel, Assistant Corps member Mariam Nelson, had earlier warned cell guards about the dangers of overcrowding.

Nelson reportedly cautioned that the conditions could lead to suffocation and advised officers to leave the metal cell door unlocked to improve ventilation.

However, the warning was allegedly ignored despite the risks associated with keeping so many detainees in the poorly ventilated facility.

The committee established that 33 bodies were officially recorded as brought dead at the General Hospital, Minna, while six surviving detainees received medical treatment and were subsequently discharged.

The panel maintained that the incident required accountability and further investigation into the actions and omissions of the officers responsible for the detention facility.