Ebonyi pit accident: Umahi goes tough on miners as 3 bodies recovered

Three of the occupants of a car which plunged into a mining pit on Saturday in Enyigba, Ebonyi State were yesterday brought out dead.

The deceased were said to be a popular politician in the area comrade Ogochukwu Elem, who is the youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, and two policemen.

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Daily Trust could not confirm as at press time Monday if there were other passengers in the car apart from the three.

A source told Daily Trust that the vehicle left Abakiliki with the security men and headed for Ikwo Local Government Area before the unfortunate incident.

However, no official confirmation has been issued on the identities of the occupants of the car.

Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi yesterday directed that all uncovered mining pit in the 13 local government areas of the state should be covered before Monday.

Umahi made this known at the scene of the pit accident at Enyigba local government area of Abakiliki when the bodies of the deceased were recovered.

Umahi who described the accident as unfortunate, vowed to go tougher against miners in the state.

“ It is unfortunate incident, we have recovered three bodies, two were policemen and the other body is that of the youth leader of our great party APC in the state. With this incident, I’m going to be tougher on the miners. Also I have directed the supervising Commissioner in charge of mining Barr. Samuel Okorokwo to identify all uncovered mining sites in all the state and cover it before Monday”, the governor said.