A somber mood has engulfed residents of Rutsiro District, Western Rwanda, after three men lost their lives while attempting to steal minerals from an abandoned mining site that had been officially closed for two months. The tragic incident occurred in Kazizi Village, Kagano Cell, Mukura Sector, on the night of Saturday, October 19, 2025.
According to local authorities, the victims had sneaked into the disused mine late at night in search of valuable minerals but were overcome by a lack of oxygen inside the pit. Their lifeless bodies were later retrieved by security officers and local rescuers after a fourth man, who managed to escape, alerted authorities to the tragedy.
Speaking to the media, Mukura Sector Executive Secretary, Emmanuel Ndayambaje, confirmed the deaths and explained how the incident unfolded. “Security guards working for the mining company discovered suspicious activity around midnight. They quickly notified local leaders after apprehending one individual seen near the site. The suspect then revealed that four people had entered the pit to dig for minerals. When they arrived, one man who had escaped informed them that the remaining three had suffocated inside. Sadly, all were found dead,” Ndayambaje said.
The victims were identified as young men aged between 16 and 29, highlighting a growing concern over youth involvement in illegal mining activities. Their bodies were taken to a nearby health center for examination before being handed over to their families for burial.
Authorities have repeatedly warned residents against engaging in unauthorized mining, which poses severe risks such as suffocation, landslides, and toxic gas exposure. Ndayambaje urged the community to prioritize safety and cooperate with officials to prevent similar incidents. “We appeal to citizens to stay away from closed or unauthorized mining sites. These places are extremely dangerous and unfit for human entry. Illegal mining not only endangers lives but also destroys the environment and undermines national efforts to regulate the mining sector,” he added.
This incident comes just days after another group of illegal miners in the same district were trapped by a landslide while attempting to extract minerals from restricted areas a sign that the problem of unregulated mining persists despite government awareness campaigns.
The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) has also urged communities to report illegal mining operations immediately and to engage in cooperatives or licensed mining activities for their own safety.
Mining remains one of Rwanda’s key economic sectors, contributing significantly to national exports. However, illegal and unsafe mining practices continue to pose threats to both human life and the environment, prompting ongoing government efforts to strengthen regulation, promote responsible mining, and provide alternative livelihoods to vulnerable groups involved in the illicit trade.
Local leaders in Rutsiro have pledged to intensify community sensitization campaigns and strengthen patrols around abandoned or closed mining sites to ensure such preventable tragedies do not happen again.
Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA
