The police have confirmed that an illegal gold stone mine has collapsed in Umai community, in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State in South-South Nigeria.
The police however declined to confirm the number of people who lost their lives in the collapse, asking journalists to be patient as investigation is still ongoing.
Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo in a phone interview, said a combined team of security operatives was deployed to the scene of the incident, immediately the police was alerted on the sad development.
Eye witnesses account say the deep mine, collapsed early on Thursday morning, killing six of the miners while others critically injured have been moved to an undisclosed hospital.
The Cross River State Government on Friday sent an emergency team to the scene of the collapse, warning those engaged in illegal mining and blasting in Akampa, Biase and Yakurr Local Government Areas to have a change of mind or face the law.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
