According to local reports making the rounds, an unconfirmed number of persons have died following a suspected toxic gas exposure at a mining site in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, sparking renewed concerns over unsafe mining practices and regulation in the area.

Confirming the development to reporters, Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, said he received an early-morning call alerting him to the tragedy.

“It happened at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government. We got information that the miners dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a gas that killed 37 of them instantly,” Sambo said in a phone interview.

He stated that several other miners were rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention, though the exact number of survivors remains unclear as of press time.

Sambo further disclosed that the youths were mining zinc on behalf of a company said to be a Chinese-owned mining firm operating in the area, stressing that the nature of the mineral being mined was not immediately confirmed.

According to the youth leader, troops of the Nigerian Army were deployed to the site, just as the soldiers cordoned off the area to prevent further access and possible exposure, as well as to control the situation.

“The army has since gone there and cordoned off the place to stop people from having access and also to stop the spread,” Sambo said.

The incident has reignited public concern over artisanal and company-backed mining activities, especially in rural communities where safety standards, environmental oversight, and emergency preparedness are often weak.