Tragedy struck the Udege Mbeki community in Nasarawa State on Thursday when two young siblings, Umar Muhammad (7) and Ibrahim Muhammad (9), lost their lives by drowning in an abandoned excavation site formerly operated by Kenyang Mining Company Limited, a Chinese firm. The site, locally known as a paddock, had filled with rainwater following recent heavy downpours, turning it into a deadly hazard for children playing nearby.
According to Dauda Kana, Chairman of Afo Youth Mobility, the boys had followed their cousin to the site where she had gone to wash clothes. The mining company’s failure to reclaim and secure the 50-meter setback area after years of excavation has been identified as a direct cause of the unsafe conditions that led to this heartbreaking incident. Kana lamented the tragedy, emphasizing that despite a court injunction obtained last year to halt further mining activities and a subsequent out-of-court settlement mandating reclamation and safety measures, the company has yet to fulfill its obligations.
The consent judgment, granted in March 2025, required the mining firm to submit a detailed reclamation plan, begin reclamation work promptly upon regulatory approval, cease excavation in certain areas within four years, construct protective fencing, and provide essential community amenities. However, these measures remain unimplemented, leaving the community vulnerable.
The deceased children were buried according to Islamic rites in their hometown. The youth group has vowed to return to court to enforce compliance if the mining company continues to neglect its responsibilities. They also called on the Nasarawa State Government to strengthen regulatory oversight to prevent further loss of lives and ensure mining companies uphold safety standards in host communities.
