One person has been confirmed dead following the collapse of a section of a private rice mill in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, while five others were trapped under the wreckage as rescue efforts continued.
The incident occurred at a rice mill owned by NIA-AGRI, prompting an emergency response from state authorities. As of Tuesday evening, combined rescue teams were still working to save the trapped workers.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, led a high-powered government delegation on an on-the-spot assessment visit to the facility to ascertain the extent of the damage and oversee rescue operations.
During the visit, the project engineer at the site informed the delegation that one staff member had lost his life in the incident, while five others remained trapped beneath the collapsed metal structure.
Rescue efforts are being carried out by a joint team comprising the Kebbi State Fire Service and government emergency response workers, who have been engaged in continuous operations to reach the victims.
The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined.
Senator Tafida said a full investigation would be conducted after the completion of rescue operations.
The Kebbi State Government expressed sympathy to the management and staff of the rice mill and pledged continued support for the rescue exercise until all affected persons are accounted for.
