Nine miners have died after floodwater submerged a mining pit in Nahuta Village, Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed the incident.

He said the miners were working at Pit Three when heavy rainfall caused water to flood the pit around 3pm on September 25. The incident was reported to the police by Kasim Abdulsalam, the purchase manager of Zurfi Mining Company in Nahuta.

Some of the miners were rescued, while one victim who was electrocuted was rushed to General Hospital, Kashere, in neighbouring Gombe State, where he was confirmed dead. Detectives later used water pump generators to evacuate water from the pit so the remaining victims could be recovered.

The other eight miners were removed from the pit at about 6:20am on September 28 and taken to the same hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed them dead. The deceased included men from Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kebbi states, aged between 23 and 40.

Their bodies were released to their relatives after medical examination for burial according to their respective religious rites. Police said investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper