The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development on Saturday vowed to revoke the titles of owners of licensed land that are being used for illegal mining operations.

The government said this in response to development at a mining site located in Shirley Niger State which had swallowed over 50 miners during the collapse.

Weeks after the Shiroro incident was reported, another site Bazakwoi, Adunu Community, in the Paikoro Local Government Area in Niger state was reported to have collapsed on Thursday, June 13, 2024, resulting in the death of three men.

Responding to the frequent occurrences in the state, the Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said preliminary investigations showed that the collapsed mine was in the area under Exploration Licence 43113 of Jurassic Mines Limited in Adunu Village, Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State.

He said, “At the time of the visit, work had stopped at the site, and only onlookers were seen. The coordinates of the site were taken, and officials returned to Minna at about 8.30 pm.

“The owners of the company were contacted by phone, but they claimed ignorance of happenings on the site. They were then summoned to the office in the state capital.

“Owners of licenced units of land mined by illegal miners will lose their titles”.

The statement noted that the men killed in the accident had since been buried.

The minister further warned land title owners with mining licenses to desist from illegal operations, as those caught or found guilty would face the law.