Two lives have reportedly been lost after a portion of a mining structure suddenly collapsed on Saturdayat the Ika-Ogboyaga mining site, Ankpa local government area of Kogi State.
A source who spoke to newsmen, said the young men indentified as Attah and Amodu that lost their lives, have been buried according to Islamic rites after locals rushed to the site and removed their bodies from the rubbles.
The Deputy Corps Commandant and Head of Solid Minerals of the state command, Nkom Samson Katung, said the operatives of the command had commenced investigations to ascertain the owner of the collapsed site.
He further explained that the divisional officers of the command had been directed to link up with the traditional ruler of the community to suspend further illegal mining activities in the area.
Meanwhile, the state government has also directed the total stoppage of illegal mining in the state.
Bashiru Gegu, the Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, stated that all legal operators should henceforth register with the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources to enhance orderliness and criminal-free sites.
The government observed that the activities of some unknown operators in mining sites had become worrisome, believing that failure to adhere to the directive of registration would make the government to clamp down on erring mining operators and sites in the state.
Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), however, confirmed the incident of the death of the two young men, saying that it happened around 4.20pm on Saturday.
