The car involved in the mining pit accident in Ebonyi
Ebonyi mining pit accident: Bodies of APC Youth leader, 2 police orderly recovered
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Body of Youth Leader of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State, Comrade Ogochukwu Elem has been recovered from inside a Volkswagen Golf car which plunged into a mining pit along Enyigba axis of Ikwo/AEFUNAI road in Ebonyi State, Saturday evening.
He was recovered from the pit alongside his two Police Orderly Monday morning with the help of local divers and Crane.
The deceased was on his way to attend a function at his home town, Alike Ikwo community, when the fatal accident occurred.
The cause of the accident was still sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
The late APC youth leader was said to be the one driving the Golf car.
Governor David Umahi who was present during the rescue operation, described the incident as very unfortunate and mysterious.
According to him, we do not know the cause of the accident, we do not know what happened but it’s quite very mysterious how it happened that even the wages of the sand could not stop them and the small vehicle plunged into a pit that was dug over 20 years and not closed.
The Governor further directed that closing of all mining pits across the State must commence before next week Monday.
“We learnt of the unfortunate incident of an accident here on this road, that was on Saturday. The accident is still a mystery to all of us, that was the APC Youth Leader with some policemen that were going for a function and the accident happened.
“We do not know the cause of the accident, we do not know what happened but it’s quite very mysterious how it happened that even the wages of the sand could not stop them and the small vehicle plunged into a pit that was dug over 20 years and not closed.
“It is very unfortunate and we have been fighting this issue of digging pits, harvesting lead, zinc and shippings without closing it back. We have been fighting with miners in Ebonyi State over this issue. And so, the Chief of Staff is here who also doubles as the Commissioner for Solid Minerals.
“We are going to identify all the pits in Ebonyi State, whether it was dug for lead, for zinc, for shippings or any other mineral in Ebonyi State. we have to identify who did it and then, the closing of these pits must commence latest by next week Monday,” Umahi said.
