No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead, while several others sustained injuries following a tragic mining pit collapse in Enyim Agalegu community, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The fatal incident occurred on Saturday at a mining site reportedly operated by First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt, sparking fresh concerns over illegal mining activities in Ebonyi.
Community Leaders Confirm Casualties
Confirming the development on Sunday, the National Chairman of Enyim Agalegu Edukwu Opeke Federated Union, Oboke Chukwuma Collins, disclosed that he received a distress call around 4 p.m. on Saturday informing him that the mining pit had caved in on workers.
According to Collins, community members immediately mobilised for emergency rescue operations.
“We evacuated some overburden on top of some lifeless people, like three of them, and we rescued about four that are injured,” he said.
He explained that volunteers worked tirelessly to remove debris and overburden that had trapped victims beneath the collapsed earth.
Allegations of Illegal Mining in Ikwo
Collins alleged that mining activities at the site were illegal, claiming the community had previously written to both the company and the Ebonyi State Ministry of Solid Minerals, requesting that the pit be handed over to the community for controlled mining after operations at the main pit were allegedly completed.
He said all efforts to secure approval from the company were unsuccessful.
“We engaged them in writing, even to the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, but they said no. So we, the leadership of the community, backed off from the agitation,” he added.
The community leader lamented that the latest tragedy brings the total number of deaths recorded at the mining site to five.
Ebonyi Government Reacts to Mining Accident
Reacting at the scene on Sunday, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Chidi Onyi, described the mining pit collapse 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 stated.
Onyi attributed recurring mining accidents in the state to illegal mining activities, which he said are often driven by greed. He further clarified that neither the state nor the federal government was 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 added.
Rising Concerns Over Mining Safety in Ebonyi
The Ebonyi mining pit collapse has reignited debate over mining safety standards, regulatory oversight, and illegal mining operations in Ikwo and other parts of the state.
Stakeholders are now calling for stricter monitoring of mining companies and enforcement of safety regulations to prevent further loss of lives in mining communities.
