4 die, 2 injured in Niger mining pit collapse

A mining pit collapsed on six miners, killing four and injuring two in Shadadi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.
The affected persons were declared missing by the Village Head of Shadadi after a fruitless search for them.
The miners, who were well known for their activities in the area, rich for gold, left home and never returned, Daily Trust gathered.
A search party was said to have been arranged by the community leaders, when their whereabouts could not be ascertained.
The remains of the four deceased were recovered on the second day of search.  It was gathered that the two people injured are now receiving treatment at a hospital in Bangi, headquarters of the local government area, while those who lost their lives have been buried.
Authorities were said to have promptly shut the open site, halting all mining activities in the area.
Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterday, said the site where the incident occurred has been condoned off by security personnel and that investigation into the matter has commenced.
 He said men of the command are also enforcing the ban on artisan mining in the state.