Three persons have been confirmed dead at Enyim Agalegu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday after a mining pit collapsed, leaving four other miners critically injured.
The incident occurred at a miming pit reportedly covered by the mining lease of First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt, where illegal mining activities were said to be taking place.
Confirming the development on Sunday at the scene, the National Chairman of Enyim Agalegu Edukwu Opeke Federated Union, Oboke Chukwuma Collins, said he received a distress call at about 4 p.m. on Saturday notifying him that the mining pit had caved in on some miners.
According to him, he immediately rushed to the site and mobilised members of the community to assist in rescue efforts.
“We evacuated some overburden on top of some lifeless people, like three of them, and we rescued about four that are injured,” he said.
Mr. Collins noted that the community had previously written to the company and the state Ministry of Solid Minerals, requesting that the pit be released to the community for controlled mining after the company allegedly completed work at the main pit.
He described the activity at the site as illegal, noting that all efforts to secure approval from the company had been rebuffed.
“We engaged them (the company) in writing, even to the commissioner for solid nineral, but they said no. So, we, the leadership of the community, backed off from the agitation,” he added.
Collins, who lamented the loss of lives at the site said the recent deaths brings to a total of five persons that have so far lost their lives at the site.
Also speaking to journalists at the scene on Sunday, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development in Ebonyi State, Chidi Onyi described the incident as unfortunate and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
“It is never our interest or intention to lose some of our people who are under our care,” he said.
The commissioner attributed the recurring accidents in mining communities to illegal mining activities.ocaasiiend by greed and the quest for money.
He stressed that the government was not aware that the site had been abandoned.
“This site belongs to First Patriots. Both the state and federal governments are not aware that this site has been abandoned. The site is still very active,” he stated.
He disclosed that the ministry had received letters from community leaders last year requesting that the company release part of the site to locals for mining.
He, however, noted that the ministry made it clear that it lacked the authority to grant such approval since the land was under a private mining lease.
According to him, officials, including himself and the member representing Ikwo North Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Ifeanyi Nwakpu had visited the site several times to address the matter.
“The company vehemently said no and gave their reasons. They said that the pit is already dangerous and not the kind of place you allow artisans to work,” he said.
He added that some youths often sneaked into the site to mine against the company’s wishes, describing the development as carelessness.
He noted that those sponsoring illegal mining operations often avoid the risks while young unemployed miners bear the consequences.
“It is high time we prioritise lives above monetary value,” he said.
The lawmaker representing Ikwo North Constituency, Ifeanyi Nwakpu, said he was informed of the collapse Saturday night by the community leader and immediately contacted relevant authorities.
Nwakpu confirmed that the three deceased persons had been recovered and deposited in a mortuary, while the four injured victims were receiving treatment at a hospital.
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“As of now, what I am aware of is three dead persons and four other persons injured,” he said.
He added that it was not yet clear whether the victims were staff of the company or artisanal miners.
The lawmaker revealed that he had previously advised the company to either close the pit if it was no longer in use or properly secure it to prevent further casualties.
The Chief Security Officer of the Mining Company, First Patriots Limited, Eze Stephen said security agents had tried repeatedly to stop the the people from engaging in illegal mining at the site but have been resisted by the villagers.
“There was a time the company wanted to cover it, but the youth rmobilised and came here and stopped it. They threatened to cause trouble if the company tried to cover it”
“Many times, we have tried to stop them from mining it illegally but they have refused. They come both at night and in the day.
“And when they are there, you can’t fire at them because it is dangerous and you don’t want to make them to fall into the water while running and die”, he said.
