By: Emmanuel Koffa |Grand Kru Correspondent
Grand Kru County, Liberia |March 5, 2026| The death of a 42-year-old miner at a river-based mining site in Grand Kru County has drawn renewed attention to safety practices within small-scale mining operations across the county.
Nani Toe, a resident of Buah Geeken, reportedly drowned on Friday, February 27, 2026, while working aboard a mining boat in Kanta Village along River Noh.
According to police, the incident was formally reported on Saturday, February 28, 2026, by authorities of the Barclayville Mining Agency. Officers led by Superintendent Leon Q. Acquaah of the Crime Services Division (CSD) visited the scene to begin an investigation.
Preliminary accounts indicate that the deceased had been working with a colleague, Joe George Carl, 29. Carl told investigators he briefly left the mining boat after experiencing sudden stomach pain. Upon his return, he said he could not find Toe onboard and immediately alerted the boat owner, Stanley Jappoe.
A search operation later led to the recovery of Toe’s body from beneath the river.
In line with Liberian legal procedure, a 15-member coroner jury was convened to examine the body. After assessment, the jury found no signs of foul play and ruled that the cause of death was drowning.
Police confirmed that both the coworker and the boat owner were informed of their constitutional rights and taken into custody as part of routine investigative measures.
The incident has since raised concerns among community members about the use of safety gear, emergency response preparedness, and regulatory oversight at river-based mining sites. Residents are calling for stronger enforcement of safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
