In December 2024, a fresh outbreak of lead poisoning was confirmed in the Bungudu area of Zamfara State in Nigeria, reminiscent of a previous 2010 crisis that killed over 400 children. Despite a six-year total mining ban – initially imposed to prevent such tragedies and only reversed in late 2024 – illegal artisanal gold mining resumed in violation of government directives. The unauthorised miners, using unsafe ore processing methods, reintroduced toxic lead into the environment. The federal government responded by re-imposing an immediate suspension of all mining activities in the state. In response to the incident, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development expressed concern, stating that the outbreak reflects gross negligence by traditional rulers and local authorities who allowed unregulated miners to operate unchecked.