Many people are feared dead after an illegal mining pit collapsed at Mayo Kam community in Bali LGA of Taraba state on Thursday.
Reports indicate that the incident occurred in the afternoon as miners worked at the site, with several people trapped underground.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of casualties had not been officially established.
According to Punch newspaper, as many as 20 people may have been trapped underneath the pit.
Speaking to TheCable on Friday, Victor Mshelizah, spokesperson for the Taraba state police command, said five people have so far been confirmed dead as rescue operations continue.
“It’s at an illegal mining site at Mayo Kam community under Bali local government,” Mshelizah said.
“So far, only five people have been confirmed dead. But we are trying to find out if there are more people trapped, so we can rescue them.
“We have men on the ground already and we have been there since yesterday.”
The incident has thrown the community into mourning, as most of the victims are said to be indigenes of the village.
The development comes as 37 suspected illegal miners arrested in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto villages in Niger state were found dead in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
In a statement on Thursday, Suberu Aniviye, NSCDC commandant in Niger state, said the suspects were arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16.
The federal government has since suspended Aniviye, while ordering an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.