By RismadarVoice Media
December 31, 2025
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.
Rescue operations were ongoing as of the time of filing this report, with emergency responders working to reach victims believed to be buried beneath metal and other debris.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, led a government delegation to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, assured that all necessary efforts were being made to rescue those still trapped.
“We are here to first – assess the situation, more importantly, to ensure that every possible effort is made to rescue those still trapped,” Tafida said.
“The safety of workers is paramount, and the government will remain fully engaged until this operation is concluded.”
The state government expressed sympathy with the management and staff of NIA-AGRI, owners of the facility, describing the incident as tragic.
A project engineer at the site informed the delegation that one staff member died instantly, while five others were believed to be trapped under the collapsed structure as of Tuesday night.
A joint rescue team comprising the Kebbi State Fire Service, other emergency responders has been deployed to the site, using heavy-duty equipment to cut through the rubble in search of survivors.
A senior emergency official said the operation was being conducted with extreme caution to prevent further casualties.
“The rescue operation is delicate, but our teams are doing everything possible to reach those trapped without causing further harm,” the official said.
The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined. Tafida stated that the state government would launch a full investigation after the rescue operation to ascertain the cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
Rice milling is a major component of Kebbi State’s agro-industrial drive, with several private facilities operating across the state and employing hundreds of workers. The incident has raised concerns over safety standards within the sector.
