close
Monday, February 16, 2026

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.

• February 16, 2026
Mining pit
Mining pit [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)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Singer Market inferno

Economy

Kano govt urged to relocate Singer Market after blaze

Kabiru Yusuf-Nadabo, a retired assistant corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, has called for relocating the Singer market to Dangwaro International Market in Kano.

President Bola Tinubu

Abuja

Senator seeks 16-year single tenure for president in Nigeria

Kenneth Eze (APC-Ebonyi) has called for a nationwide debate on replacing Nigeria’s current two-term, four-year presidential cycle with a single 16-year tenure.

NSCIA leaders

Faith

Secessionists, bigoted leaders alleging Christian genocide to annihilate Muslims in Nigeria: NSCIA

NSCIA further alleged that the “culture of inequality against Muslims is being entrenched because Christians have foreign powers to defend them while Muslims appear defenceless”.

Transmission line

Economy

TCN restores Shiroro-Mando transmission Line 1

The Transmission Company of Nigeria says it has restored the 330 kilovolt Shiroro-Mando Transmission Line 1, which is now operational.

Peter Obi speaking with Bola Tinubu

Anti-Corruption

Nigerians elected thieves to manage national resources: Peter Obi

Mr Obi had excoriated Mr Tinubu for fiscal recklessness, repeatedly expanding the 2023 budget “without a clearly defined end date”.

Vessels on Gulf of Guinea

Africa

Nigeria pledges to support maritime task force in Gulf of Guinea

Nigeria has pledged full infrastructural and operational support for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea.