Title: Mining Pit Collapse Kills Three, Injures Four in Ebonyi Community Date Published: 16 February 2026 Description: At least three persons have been confirmed dead and four others injured following the collapse of a mining pit in Enyim Agalegu community, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at a mining site allegedly linked to illegal mining activities. The injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment at undisclosed health facilities.Confirming the incident on Sunday, the National Chairman of the Enyim Agalegu Edukwu Opeke Federated Union, Oboke Chukwuma-Collins, said he received a distress call around 4:00 p.m. alerting him that the pit had caved in on miners working at the site.According to him, community members were immediately mobilised to the scene, where rescue efforts commenced. He said three lifeless bodies were recovered from the debris, while four injured persons were pulled out alive.Chukwuma-Collins explained that the community had earlier written to the company operating the site and to the state Ministry of Solid Minerals, requesting that the pit be released to locals for controlled mining after the company allegedly completed operations at the main pit.He said the community leadership later withdrew from the agitation after the request was rejected, lamenting that the latest incident has brought the total number of deaths recorded at the site to five.The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chidi Onyia, who visited the scene, described the incident as unfortunate and condoled with the families of the deceased.Onyia attributed repeated accidents in mining communities to illegal mining driven by greed and desperation, stressing that government authorities were not aware that the site had been abandoned.He said the mining site belongs to First Patriots, adding that both state and federal governments still regarded the location as an active mining site.The commissioner disclosed that the ministry had received letters from the community last year seeking approval for locals to mine part of the land but explained that such approval could not be granted because the area is under a private mining lease.According to him, officials of the ministry, alongside the lawmaker representing Ikwo North Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Ifeanyi Nwakpu, had visited the site on several occasions to address the situation.He added that the company had consistently opposed artisanal mining at the pit, warning that the location was unsafe and unsuitable for such activities. Onyia noted that some youths still sneak into the site against warnings, exposing themselves to danger.“It is high time we prioritise lives above monetary value,” the commissioner said.Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force in Ebonyi State said no official report of the incident had been received from the community or any individual as of Sunday. Attached Images: 39ad3b425e0b934ee786786e20f38bce535ae8cd4efbd662696da7adfa43a591.jpg Attached Video: None