Police confirm 3 killed in Ebonyi mining pit collapse

The Police Command in Ebonyi has confirmed the killing of three people following the collapse of a minning pit in a rural community.

Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Sunday, SP Joshua Ukandu, its spokesman, said four others were injured in the incident which occurred on Saturday.

”Three people were killed on Saturday when a mining pit collapsed at Enyim Agalegu in Ikwo Local Government Area.

”We received information on the incident and the DPO in the area also visited the scene but no official report has been received from the victim’s family,” he added.

Also confirming the development, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr Chidi Onyi, described the incident as unfortunate.

The commissioner attributed the recurring collapse in mining communities to illegal mining activities, occasioned by greed for money.

“The incident occurred at a pit reportedly covered by the mining lease of First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt,” he said.