Two young siblings, including Umar Muhammad (7) and Ibrahim Muhammad (9) have drowned in an abandoned excavation site operated by Kenyang Mining Company Limited, a Chinese firm.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday at Udege Mbeki community in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
The site, commonly referred to as a paddock, was filled with water due to recent heavy rainfall, creating a deadly trap for unsuspecting children.
The Chairman of Afo Youth Mobility, Dauda Kana, said in a statement on Thursday that the tragedy occurred on Thursday when the boys followed their cousin, who had gone to the site to wash clothes.
Kana expressed deep sorrow over the incident, blaming Kenyang Mining Company for failing to reclaim the 50-meter setback after years of excavation in the area, noting that the company’s negligence directly contributed to the unsafe conditions that led to the children’s deaths.
“As a result, Afo Youth Mobility (officially registered as Afo Youth Mentorship Initiative) alongside nine others took the company to the Nasarawa State High Court to seek legal interpretation of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) signed on September 26, 2021, between the Udege community and the mining firm.” Kana explained.
He said the court, presided over by Justice Rose G. Soji in Keffi, had granted an interim injunction on November 19, 2024, barring the company from any further mining activity or harassment of the community until the matter was resolved.
Subsequently, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement, resulting in a consent judgment granted on March 4, 2025. The judgment included legally binding terms, such as:
Submission of a detailed reclamation plan for the 50-meter setback within one year of further excavation.
Immediate commencement of reclamation work upon regulatory approval.
Cessation of excavation in Millionaire’s Quarters within four years.
Construction of a concrete fence to separate mining zones from residential areas, with a 40-meter buffer.
Repair of the Udege Mbeki–Gada Hudu road and provision of essential amenities—including boreholes, electricity, hospital, school, and police post—at the community’s relocation site.
“Sadly, the joy that accompanied the judgment has now turned to grief,” Kana said.
“This tragic loss shows the urgent need for the company to begin immediate reclamation of the abandoned paddocks before more lives are lost.”
He further warned that Afo Youth Mobility would not hesitate to return to court to enforce the terms of the consent judgment if the company continues to renege on its obligations.
Kana also called on the Nasarawa State Government to intensify its regulatory oversight and ensure full compliance with the Mining Act, stressing that mining companies must be held accountable for the safety and well-being of host communities.
The deceased children have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites in Udege Mbeki, an Afo-speaking community.
