In Buya village, located in the Obanliku region of the Cross River, a tragic incident occurred last Wednesday. A group of young miners were victims of a collapse in a tourmaline mine, killing two of them and seriously injuring three others.
The state Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Effiom-Ekaha Otu, expressed dismay over the avoidable tragedy. He warned young people against dangerous activities that could endanger their lives.
An anonymous source said the young miners were working illegally in the area where a rare variety of tourmaline was discovered. Hired to extract this precious mineral, they were paid a small sum for their perilous work.
Emergency services intervened quickly after the collapse, but unfortunately two young miners lost their lives. Witnesses at the scene described the panic and confusion at the time of the incident, with cries of distress and desperate efforts to save the miners trapped under the rubble.
A thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the legality of mining activity in the region, as well as the exact circumstances of this accident. It is essential to establish strict security measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.
This tragedy serves as a reminder of the need to respect workplace safety rules and standards, especially in dangerous environments like mines. Hopefully this incident will serve as a lesson and encourage authorities to strengthen regulation of the mining industry to protect the lives of workers.