The chairman of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mrs Ada Charles Egwu, has promised to set up a panel to investigate the collapse of the illegal gold stone mine in Umai community, for appropriate action to be taken, to forestall further incidents.
The chairman stated this when she visited the area to assess the activities of the illegal miners and also see for herself the collapsed site that took the lives of six young men on Wednesday.
She said the activities of illegal miners in the area was worrisome and called on security agents to beef up surveillance on the sites to forestall further mishaps.
She called on them to seal off the place and arrest anyone who disobeys the order to stay away from the mine.
The Council Chairman said she was saddened by the death of the youths whose lives had been cut short, while struggling to make ends meet and also described the tragic death as unfortunate.
“My heart goes out to their families on behalf of my family and the good people of Biase Local Government Area over this pathetic development,” she added.
