Over 20 Feared Dead as Mining Pit Collapses in Mayo-Kam, Taraba
By Taraba News Desk
At least 20 people are feared dead following the collapse of a mining pit at Mayo-Kam in Gantu, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, according to reports emerging from the area.
The incident is believed to have occurred at a mining site where miners were reportedly carrying out excavation activities when the pit suddenly collapsed, trapping several people underground.
As of the time of this report, the exact number of casualties had not been independently confirmed by the Taraba State Government, security agencies or emergency responders. Details concerning rescue operations and the identities of those trapped are also still emerging.
But why were miners operating there despite the ban?
The development raises renewed questions over the enforcement of Taraba State’s longstanding prohibition on illegal mining.
Governor Agbu Kefas first suspended mining activities across the state in June 2023 through an executive order, citing environmental degradation, insecurity, water pollution and other risks associated with unregulated mining.
The ban has remained a major policy of the administration. In January 2026, Governor Kefas again said the prohibition on illegal mining remained in force, while acknowledging the Federal Government’s constitutional responsibility for the regulation of solid minerals.
More recently, the state government intensified enforcement.
In July, the Taraba Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force raided a mining site at Mayo-Kam in Gantu, Bali LGA, following intelligence reports. Two suspected illegal miners were arrested while several pieces of mining equipment were recovered. According to the task force, other miners escaped into nearby forests when security operatives arrived.
The same area has therefore already been identified by authorities as a location where unauthorised mining was taking place despite government restrictions.
New task force constituted
The government’s latest response came in September, when it constituted a new eight-man task force to enforce the state’s ban on illegal mining and protect forests and other natural resources.
The new team, supported by security agencies, was also mandated to work with the state’s existing mobile court in prosecuting offenders.
The repeated enforcement operations demonstrate that the government is actively attempting to stop unauthorised mining, but reports of continued activity suggest that enforcement has faced significant challenges.
A recent Premium Times investigation found that illegal mining has continued in several parts of Taraba despite successive government orders. The report cited the state’s difficult terrain, remote mining locations and the economic attraction of mineral extraction among factors making enforcement difficult.
Mayo-Kam already on government’s radar
The latest incident is particularly significant because Mayo-Kam was reportedly the subject of an enforcement operation only months ago.
During the July raid, authorities said suspected miners abandoned the site and fled into nearby forests as security personnel approached. Equipment allegedly used for mining was recovered.
This raises questions about whether mining activities resumed at the location after the enforcement operation, whether the site was being operated continuously, and whether those involved possessed any federal mining licences or other authorisations.
Those questions will need to be answered by the relevant authorities as investigations into the reported collapse continue.
Safety concerns
Mining pits, particularly those excavated without proper engineering standards, can pose serious risks of sudden collapse, trapping workers underground.
The reported Mayo-Kam incident therefore highlights not only the enforcement challenge surrounding illegal mining but also the potential human cost of unregulated excavation.
For now, the reported death toll of more than 20 remains unverified. Authorities would need to conduct rescue and recovery operations and formally account for those at the site before the casualty figure can be established.
What happens next?
The immediate priorities are expected to be:
Rescue and recovery of anyone still trapped underground;
Establishment of the confirmed number of casualties;
Identification of the miners involved;
Determination of who authorised or facilitated operations at the site;
Investigation into whether the operators possessed valid federal mining titles;
Establishment of when mining resumed at the location despite the state government’s restrictions; and
Possible prosecution of those found to have violated the state’s mining directives.
The incident also puts renewed focus on a difficult question facing Taraba: how can the state effectively enforce a mining ban in remote communities where illegal mining continues despite repeated raids and task-force operations?
For now, the reported fatalities should be treated as unconfirmed until the state government, police, emergency agencies or other credible authorities provide an official casualty figure.
Taraba News will continue to monitor developments and update the public as verified information emerges.
