A section of the NIA-AGRI private rice mill in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State capital, collapsed on December 30, 2025, killing one worker instantly while trapping five others under debris as rescue operations raged into the night. Emergency teams from the state fire service deployed heavy machinery for delicate extraction, prioritizing survivor safety amid twisted metal wreckage.
Deputy Governor Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida led an on-site assessment, vowing full state support until all victims are accounted for and launching a probe into the cause once rescues conclude. The government extended condolences to NIA-AGRI management and families, highlighting rice milling's role in Kebbi's agro-economy despite rising safety concerns.
Project engineers confirmed the lone fatality at collapse time, with ongoing efforts cautious to avoid secondary casualties as officials prayed for the trapped workers' survival. This incident spotlights structural vulnerabilities in Nigeria's expanding milling sector, echoing festive insecurities from Edo kidnaps to highway perils.
Kebbi's agro-push under Tinubu faces scrutiny as investigations target lapses, with promises of aid for affected families amid 2025's toll of industrial mishaps. The episode underscores urgent needs for rigorous safety audits in food production hubs nationwide.