Four illegal miners have died after a sand excavation pit collapsed at Tangur community in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred at about 2:20pm on Tuesday, according to a report by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, after troops responded to reports of a sand collapse involving suspected illegal miners along a river line.

“The troops visited the scene and confirmed that four victims had died as a result of the collapse,” Makama reported.

The deceased were identified as Mallam Fahad Aliyu and three women whose identities had not been established at the time of the report. Their relatives recovered the bodies for burial.

During preliminary inquiries, troops engaged the community leader, who reportedly said he was unaware of the illegal mining activities in the area.

Further investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and the extent of illegal mining activities at the site.

The Plateau incident comes barely a week after 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. The deaths followed their arrest during anti-illegal mining operations on September 15 and 16.

The Federal Government has since inaugurated a 10-member independent committee to investigate the Niger deaths, while the NSCDC Niger State Commandant and 20 other officers were suspended pending the outcome of the probe.

The cause of the 37 deaths has not been established. Authorities have ordered investigations and forensic examinations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 36-year-old suspected cultist, Muyideen Olatunbosun, and recovered a rubber-made pistol, an axe, criminal charms and an illicit drug popularly known as “Ice” during an intelligence-led anti-crime patrol in Ikorodu.

A statement by the command said Olatunbosun was arrested by police operatives while they were conducting patrols around Idi-Iroko, Ogolonto and Agric areas of Ikorodu, Lagos State, following information received during the operation.

The command said the arrest was part of its continued efforts to tackle cultism and other criminal activities across the state.

A search conducted on the suspect after his arrest led to the recovery of one rubber-made pistol, one axe, criminal charms and the illicit drug known as “Ice”.

“The suspect is currently in police custody and is assisting with the ongoing investigation. Efforts are also ongoing to apprehend other members of his alleged cult group,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for their vigilance and prompt response to credible information.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations against cultism and other forms of criminality across Lagos State.

The commissioner also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police through the command’s emergency lines.

An artisan, engaged to clear weeds on the roof of a shopping plaza in Abia State, has been electrocuted.

The incident happened around the Plaza area of Ehi Road, Aba, on Tuesday evening after torrential rain in the city.

The young man, whose identity had not been established at the time of this report, was said to have stepped on a slippery surface on top of the building, causing him to lose his balance before coming into contact with rolls of live wires supplying power to the building.

The incident caused tension around the shopping centre in the Ehi Road axis as many onlookers mourned the unfortunate worker.

According to report. an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that the victim made a loud cry after coming into contact with the live wires, as power supply was on at the time of the incident.

Some residents of Aba, who thronged the scene on yesterday evening, advised property owners to ensure that high-tension wires were not close to residential and business facilities.

Relevant Abia State government agencies and the Nigeria Police Force were yet to issue statements concerning the incident.