By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Two young siblings, Umar Muhammad (7) and Ibrahim Muhammad (9), tragically drowned in an abandoned excavation site operated by the Chinese firm Kenyang Mining Company Limited in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
The incident occurred on Thursday at the Udege Mbeki community, located in the Nasarawa Local Government Area.
The site, known as a paddock, had filled with water after recent heavy rainfall, creating a dangerous trap for the children.
According to Dauda Kana, Chairman of Afo Youth Mobility, “The boys had followed their cousin, who went to the site to wash clothes.”
He expressed deep sorrow, adding, “This tragedy is a result of the mining company’s failure to reclaim the 50-meter setback area after years of excavation, which led to these unsafe conditions.”
Kana also emphasized that Afo Youth Mobility had taken legal action against Kenyang Mining Company in Nasarawa State High Court, seeking enforcement of a 2021 community development agreement (CDA) signed between the company and the Udege community.
On March 4, 2025, a consent judgment was granted, which included terms like “the submission of a detailed reclamation plan for the 50-meter setback within one year of further excavation.”
However, Kana expressed disappointment, stating, “Sadly, the joy that accompanied the judgment has now turned to grief.”
He further warned, “We will not hesitate to return to court to enforce the terms of the consent judgment if the company continues to ignore its obligations.”
Kana also urged the Nasarawa State Government to step up its regulatory oversight and ensure that mining companies comply fully with the Mining Act, ensuring the safety of host communities.
“Mining companies must be held accountable for the safety and well-being of the people they affect,” Kana stated.
The deceased children have since been buried according to Islamic rites in the Udege Mbeki community.
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