konknaijagirl | On 20, Feb 2012

No fewer than three persons were, weekend, confirmed dead while three others sustained injuries following the collapse of a mining pit at Enyim-Agalegu Ndufu Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

 The ugly incident which took place at the early hours of the fateful day threw the village into confusion as the victims were mainly youths of Agalegu Alike Ikwo, Governor Martin Elechi’s ancestral home.

In their reaction, members of the community described the death of the youths as untimely and painful.

Those who died as a result of the incident were Amobi Nwaonu, 18, Echezomunna Onuhia, 13, and Chibueze Nweke, 18. While Uche Nwancho, Obinna Nweke and Emmanuel Mba who sustained injuries were still receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

 

Emerging Trend

There have been several deaths in Ebonyi state reported over the last two years attributed to youths who have taken to illegal and dangerous mining practices armed with inexperience, crude equipment being utilised for purposes other than that which they were designed.

The rise in this trend is largely due to poverty and unemployment as well as a general sense of lawlessness as lawmakers feel paralysed into inaction for fear of being branded enemies of youths who are actually doing some form of work rather than looting or loitering.

- culled from the Guardian

- image credits – This is Africa