In the Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, in Okete village, Okpikwu Oglewu, a sad accident has claimed ten lives.
A family of four was killed in a terrible incident that occurred on Wednesday when a mining truck struck a bus carrying six people before slamming into a nearby residential building.
Ten fatalities have been confirmed after the evaluation, according to community leader Ekah Bernard, who spoke to Channels Television. Several more people are still undergoing treatment at St. Daniel Hospital in Otukpo.
This disaster has left the neighborhood, which is located along the Otukpo-Loko Oweto Abuja Road, in a state of mourning and has seriously damaged many homes and businesses.
The ban on mining activities in Zamfara State was recently lifted by the Federal Government, five years after it was put into place.
During a news conference on Sunday, December 22, 2024, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, represented by Segun Tomori, reportedly confirmed the most recent development.
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According to the statement, the Federal Government decided to relax the prohibition on mining exploration in Zamfara State because of significant advancements in regional security.
In a mineral-rich state like Zamfara, which is rich in copper, lithium, and gold resources, Nigeria stands to gain a great deal from revived economic activity, Alake said.
Although the original ban was well-intentioned, he added, it unintentionally left a hole that illicit miners took advantage of, costing the country resources.
He also emphasized how the state has a significant opportunity to increase national revenue.
