Ebonyi Govt shuts down mining site after pit collapse kills Two

The Ebonyi State Government has ordered the closure of a lead mining site in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area, following the death of two miners in a pit collapse last week.

Announcing the decision, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Hon. Chidi Emmanuel Onyia, said the shutdown of the Greenfield mining site was necessary to allow a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

“Lives are already involved, and there is no way we will just hastily conclude our findings,” Onyia told journalists, noting that preliminary reports indicate the collapse may have been a natural occurrence rather than negligence.

He expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and those injured, stressing that the government remains committed to safeguarding the lives of its citizens.

According to Onyia, security and regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), are already part of the ongoing probe.

The commissioner explained that mining accidents are not peculiar to Nigeria, pointing out that similar tragedies occur in countries like South Africa, Australia, Canada, and the United States. He urged the public not to draw hasty conclusions based on unverified information.

“Unfortunately, most of the persons issuing statements neither visited the site nor engaged with the families. It is easy to condemn without understanding the full details,” he said.

Onyia further revealed that the sealed site operates mainly through open-cast mining methods, which align with the state government’s advocacy for safer mining practices.