The Ebonyi State Government has announced that it has started an investigation into the cave-in of a mining pit located in Ihietutu, Ishiagu, within the Ivo Local Government Area. This was revealed by the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Mr. Chidi Onyia, during a site visit accompanied by federal mining officials and security forces. It is important to note that last Friday, the collapse resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left three others injured. Some reports have suggested that the incident may be due to negligence on the part of the company, Greenfield Metals Ltd. However, Onyia noted that initial investigations indicate it was a natural event. “Mining, similar to numerous global industries, has its risks. Our early findings suggest this incident occurred naturally and was not due to negligence. Ongoing investigations involve various regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals, the Police, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, aimed at maintaining transparency. Should we discover any carelessness, we will respond appropriately.” “If it is a natural disaster, it must be accepted as such,” stated Onyia. He expressed sympathy for the families who are mourning, while dismissing claims that the area had been given to illegal miners. The Commissioner called on the public to refrain from exacerbating the families’ sorrow with misinformation, stressing that the state does not support illegal mining practices and fully acknowledges the licenses granted by the Federal Government. Prince Fabian Chukwu, a leader in the community and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Ihietutu Development Union, noted that the company had provided significant support to the community. “They constructed the road to this location and consistently fulfilled their commitments to the community. This is why we support them during this unfortunate event.” The company has paused operations at the location while waiting for the results of the investigations.
