At least 22 miners are feared dead following the collapse of a mining pit at an illegal gold mining site within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which spans Gashaka Local Government Area in Taraba State and Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State.
Adamu Jamtare, a miner from Gashaka, explained that the trapped individuals were mining in the Buffa zone when the incident occurred. 
“All 22 miners trapped in the pit are presumed dead,” he said. Engineer Suleiman Toungo, Chairman of Toungo LGA, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered but was uncertain about the total number of those still buried.
In spite of frequent patrols by rangers, illegal mining activities persist in the national park, often carried out covertly at night.
Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje reported two recent mining-related fatalities and stated that the police are working with park authorities to prevent further incidents and apprehend those involved.
The continuation of such dangerous, unauthorized mining threatens lives and underscores the urgent need for government intervention to halt illegal operations and prevent further tragedies.
