One worker has been confirmed dead, while five others were trapped on Tuesday evening after a section of a private rice mill collapsed in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.
At the time this report was filed, rescue efforts were still in progress, with emergency personnel fighting to get to the victims buried by metal and rubble.
Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, the deputy governor of Kebbi State, led a government delegation to the location for an on-the-spot inspection, guaranteeing that every effort was being made to free those who remained trapped.
“We are here to first assess the situation and, more importantly, to ensure that every possible effort is made to rescue those still trapped.
“The safety of workers is paramount, and the government will remain fully engaged until this operation is concluded,” Tafida said.
The state administration described the tragedy as unfortunate and offered its condolences to the management and employees of NIA-AGRI, the facility’s proprietors.
As of Tuesday night, a project engineer at the site informed the delegation that five employees were thought to be trapped beneath the fallen structure, and one employee perished instantaneously.
Meanwhile, Kebbi State Fire Service and other emergency personnel have formed a joint rescue squad, which is utilising heavy-duty equipment to look for survivors by slicing through the debris.
The operation is being conducted cautiously to prevent more casualties, according to a senior emergency official.
“The rescue operation is delicate, but our teams are doing everything possible to reach those trapped without causing further harm,” the official said at the scene.
The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined. The collapse comes only few days after an explosion in the Bagudo General Hospital, Kebbi state.
Tafida stated that following the rescue effort, the state government would begin a thorough inquiry to determine what caused the disaster and stop it from happening again.
A significant part of Kebbi State’s agro-industrial push is rice milling, which employs hundreds of people in a number of private facilities spread around the state.
The tragedy has prompted questions about industry safety regulations.
The deputy governor assured that the government would support affected families and provide assistance where necessary.
“We pray for the safety of those still trapped and extend our condolences to the family of the deceased,” he said.
