It was a black Tuesday in Ijero Ekiti on the 7th of February, 2023, as three people were killed by landslide while working at a mining site in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Explaining to pressmen who visited the scene of the incident, an eye witness who chose to be anonymous said the mining activities have been going on for a very long time at different locations in Ijero Ekiti, even with no safety precautions for the workers nor commercial returns for the town.
“It was a very sad occurrence on Tuesday. Mining has to do with digging of the undergrounds. It was this underground digging that was going on when the landslide occured. Three people were confirmed dead while three others who were seriously injured were immediately taken to different locations for medical attention” he said.
Fact findings shows that men and women, both old and young including pregnant women and underage children always troop into the site on daily basis to search and dig the ground for Morganites, Gemstones and other Mineral resources.
Furthermore, a tour of one the mining sites closed to the State Specialist Hospital, revealed the dangers and grave ecological consequences that may befall the precious Hospital if urgent measures are not taken to mitigate against the deep TUNNELS surrounding the ONLY Health Care Facility in the community.
The president of Ijero Development Association, Engr. Olaniyi Owoyomi who described the incident as unfortunate, expressed his sadness over the incident and prayed that God gives the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the colossal loss.
Meanwhile, the Ijero Development Association (IDA) which is the umbrella body of all the sons and daughters of Ijero Ekiti had earlier filed a case against the Miner’s Associations at The Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti for their unconcerned attitudes towards the gravely impact of the mining activities on the community and its people.
Ijero people hereby call on the community leaders and relevant government agencies to intervene in the illegal mining activities without further delay, such that the Mineral resources which are blessings to the town will not end up consuming all the able-bodied and promising youths of the town in their prime.
