About five miners have reportedly lost their lives when a mine collapsed in Anyiin, Logo local Government Area of Benue State.
Locals from the area, said the incident happened Tuesday afternoon when the miners were excavating the land in search of lead material.
One of the locals, Baba Mngutor Anyiin told journalists on the phone that the accident occurred in the mine site, in Duejime area, near Anyiin in Logo LGA.
“They were working in the mine when it collapsed. Three of them died instantly, others were seriously wounded, and were transferred to a hospital in Anyiin.
Chairman of Logo LGA, Mr. Terseer Agber who confirmed the incident denied knowledge of their activities.
“I don’t know anything about their activities. They just came here with their papers and the chiefs there gave them papers to start work.
“Very early in the morning today (Tuesday), I was called and informed that about four people were trapped in a mining pit. I directed that they should try and do something and later on they came back and reported that they recovered three bodies and one injured.
“I have been calling on series of meetings with them to resolve the matter, but each time the meeting would fail.
While stating that the state government is aware of their activities, Mr. Agber said Governor Samuel Ortom had sent two Commissioners including that of Agriculture Lands and Survey and Solid Minerals but nothing happened.
He said the miners had stated earlier that they had no dealing with the Benue state government, that they collected their licence from Abuja.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State Police Command, DSP Catherine Anene said she was yet to get any information from the area.
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The PPRO, however, confirmed an attack on Guma local government area by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen where four persons were killed.
According to her, “three persons were attacked and killed on their way to the farm in Tomanyiin, Guma Local Government Area of Benue state. Four people were killed while others sustained injuries.”
Anene said the Commissioner of Police, CP Akingbola Olatunji has visited the scene of the incident while investigation is in progress
