{
  "id": 2502318,
  "title": "Mining for survival, dying in pits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/mining-for-survival-dying-in-pits",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T04:10:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/mining-for-survival-dying-in-pits/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Isyaku Usman Mu'azu never envisioned a career in mining. Born in 2000, he recalls starting at the age of 12 in Sabon Layin Rusau, a community in Plateau State's Jos North Local Government Area. Initially a casual pastime, it transformed into a full-time occupation for him and hundreds of other young men drawn to the trade. Mu'azu explained that he began by following others, but soon became fully engaged despite warnings. For miners like him, the trade offers both risk and reward. Despite harsh conditions, he finds it a source of daily income and personal fulfillment. He recounted how mining helped him build a house, marry twice, and own a motorcycle for commuting. The transaction price for pit digging ranges from N50,000 to N100,000, depending on mineral availability, with potential earnings of N5,000,000. However, the dangers are real. Mu'azu recounted collapsing pits that trapped him three times, but his colleagues saved him each time. Another miner, Ibrahim Abdullahi, 40, joined the trade in 2001, eventually managing his own companies for digging, selling, and transporting minerals. Abdullahi's success allowed him to marry, build homes, acquire vehicles, and expand his cattle business. Mining remains his primary income source, a blessing he attributes to divine intervention. Jah Pam, 42, a miner from Jos South, echoed similar sentiments, stating that mining provided for him as both a miner and middleman. Since 1998, he has benefited from the business by building a house and providing electronics and other household items for his family. Despite the benefits, Pam noted that mining serves both personal and commercial purposes. Mining has long been the backbone of Plateau State's economy, landscape, and livelihoods. Since the colonial era, vast mineral deposits have spurred the industry, shaping the region's development. Today, artisanal mining remains the lifeblood of sustenance for many families, providing money for basic necessities. However, the environmental impact is significant. Experts warn that mining pits around residential areas can contaminate water supplies and disrupt agriculture. In addition, the dangers of collapse pose a constant threat to miners and nearby communities. Between 2023 and 2026, illegal and artisanal mining pit collapses in Plateau State resulted in 91 deaths, with several major incidents in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos South, Mangu, Bokkos, and Wase areas. These incidents prompted government suspensions and safety warnings.",
  "summary": "Isyaku Usman Mu’azu never planned to become a miner. Now 30, he still remembers how it all started at the age of 12 around the dusty mining pits of Sabon Layin Rusau, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. What began as a mere pastime for Mu’azu has evolved into a […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}