- One worker confirmed dead at Kebbi rice mill
- Five staff still trapped under rubble
- Fire Service and rescue teams on site
- Government to probe cause after rescue
One employee of a privately owned rice mill in Birnin Kebbi has been confirmed dead following a partial structural collapse at the facility on Tuesday. Five other workers were still trapped beneath the debris as rescue efforts continued late into the day.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, led a government delegation to the scene to assess the situation and supervise ongoing rescue operations.
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“The visit was aimed at determining the level of damage and ensuring that emergency responders are fully supported,” Tafida said.
The project engineer at the rice mill briefed the delegation, confirming the casualty figure and the number of workers still unaccounted for.
“We have recorded one fatality, while five individuals are still trapped under the rubble. Rescue operations are ongoing,” he said.
A joint team comprising the Kebbi State Fire Service and Government Emergency Response units has been working round the clock, using heavy equipment to access the affected section of the building.
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In a statement, the Kebbi State Government expressed deep sympathy with the management and workers of NIA-AGRI, owners of the rice mill, describing the incident as tragic.
Deputy Governor Tafida noted that the exact cause of the collapse remains unclear and assured that a full investigation would be conducted once rescue efforts are concluded.
“Our priority is to rescue everyone trapped. A thorough investigation will follow,” he said.
The government also pledged continued logistical and technical support to ensure that all affected individuals are accounted for.
The incident occurred just days after an explosion at a General Hospital in Bagudo, which initially caused panic among residents. Police later clarified that the blast resulted from a fire outbreak, not a bomb, and no casualties were recorded.
