A tragic incident has once again thrown the Ihietutu Community in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State into mourning, following the collapse of a lead mining pit at the Ajirija site over the weekend.
The accident claimed the lives of two miners and left three others with severe injuries.
According to reports, the site is owned by Mr. Henry Ahanaotu, who had parcelled it out and sublet sections to small-scale, unlicensed miners operating without professional supervision.
The collapsed pit was said to have been managed by Mrs. Lovelyn Victor, an indigene of the community.
Eyewitnesses and community members revealed that the Ajirija site has been a recurring scene of mining-related tragedies.
A local source, who preferred anonymity, recounted that a similar collapse earlier in the year also resulted in two fatalities and several injuries.
Yet, despite repeated accidents, no significant sanctions have been imposed on either the site owner or the illegal operators.
“Sadly, such incidents are often brushed aside and end only at the level of police reports.
“No site owner or illegal miner has ever been punished, even though they put lives at risk,” the source lamented.
In his reaction, site owner Mr. Ahanaotu described the latest incident as unfortunate but defended his decision to lease the site to operators.
He argued that his actions were motivated by a desire to empower the youths of the community.
He further maintained that Mrs. Victor is an established miner, equipped with several excavators and heavy machinery.
“Mine pit collapse is a common occurrence wherever mining takes place. Even Royal Salt, regarded as Nigeria’s biggest mining company, has experienced such accidents with fatalities.
“The incident happened last weekend, and we are yet to visit the site to ascertain the exact cause. However, I have already contacted the Federal Mines Officer to brief him.
“As far as safety procedures are concerned, Mrs. Victor follows due process and even collaborates with other operators. What we are doing is simply to empower our people,” Ahanaotu said.
Confirming the tragedy, the spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, provided an official account of the casualties.
He noted that contrary to community reports of six victims, police findings showed five people were involved.
“Out of the five persons trapped, one died instantly while another passed away in the hospital. The remaining three victims were treated and have since been discharged,” Ukandu explained.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Federation of Women Miners in the state, Mrs. Sylvia Ogbuinya, expressed deep regret over the incident and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.
She, however, distanced the federation from the operator of the affected pit, stressing that Mrs. Victor is not a registered member.
“We consistently organise trainings and workshops for our members to align them with global safety practices in mining operations.
“Unfortunately, the operator of this pit is not under our association, which raises concerns about whether she followed standard safety principles or carried out environmental impact assessments to mitigate risks.
“We are urging the police to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter,” Ogbuinya stated.
Angered by the recurring accidents, some indigenes of Ihietutu community have called on both state and federal mining regulators to clamp down on illegal and unlicensed mining activities in the area.
They accused such operators of prioritising profit over safety, thereby endangering human lives and the environment.
“These collapsed pits and the resulting deaths have become a regular nightmare for our people. Families are thrown into sorrow again and again because of negligence and greed.
We appeal to relevant authorities to enforce strict laws against illegal mining and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” the residents insisted.