The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the death of three persons following the collapse of a mining pit inthe Enyimm Agalegu community, located inthe Ikwoo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, also left four others injured.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command received information about the tragedy and immediately responded.
“Three people were killed on Saturday when a mining pit collapsed in Enyim Agalegu, a community inthe Ikwoo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State,” Ukandu said.
“We received information on theincident,t and the Divisional Police Officer in the area visited the scene, but no official report has been received from the victims’ family,” he added.
Also reacting, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development in the state, Mr. Chidi Onyi, described the development as unfortunate.
Onyi attributed the recurring cases of pit collapses in mining communities to illegal mining activities driven by the quest for quick financial gains.
“The incident occurred at a pit reportedly covered by the mining lease of First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt,” the commissioner stated.
