Two persons have been reportedly dead, while three are in hospital following alleged illegal mining activities in Obanliku Local Council of Cross River State.
The Guardian gathered from locals that a certain rare mineral known as Tourmaline was discovered by some unknown persons at Shikpeshi PHC, along Buya road in Obanliku.
It was alleged that youths of the community engaged to exploit the site spent about four months digging a well up to an unverified but precarious dept.
Two of the five people in the well got suffocated and died, while the remaining three are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. Meanwhile, the state government has sympathised with the families of the deceased youths who reportedly suffocated to death in the mining site while searching for the rare mineral.
In a statement released by Director of Information, Ministry of Information, David Akate, the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Effiom-Ekaha Otu, on behalf of the governor, Senator Bassey Otu described the incident as unfortunate and a colossal loss to the state and the family.
While praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased, he warned youths against unwarranted and dangerous ventures capable of threatening their lives.
