Ebonyi: First Patriots Limited mining pit collapses, three killed

“The incident occurred at a pit reportedly covered by the mining lease of First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt,” said the Ebonyi official.

News Agency of Nigeria • February 16, 2026

Mining pit used to illustrate story [Credit: Punch Newspaper]

The police command has confirmed the killing of three people following the collapse of a mining pit in Ebonyi.

Confirming the death on Sunday, Joshua Ukandu, the command’s spokesman, said, “Three people were killed on Saturday when a mining pit collapsed in Enyim Agalegu, a community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.

”We received information on the incident, and the DPO in the area also visited the scene, but no official report has been received from the victim’s family.”

Also confirming the death, the commissioner for solid minerals development, Chidi Onyi, described it as unfortunate.

The commissioner attributed the recurring collapses in mining communities to illegal mining activities driven by greed for money.

“The incident occurred at a pit reportedly covered by the mining lease of First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt,” he said.

(NAN)

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