A young Ambazonian known as Eric has lost his life in a tragic accident at a sand mining site between Akum and Chomba (in Alatening) on the outskirts of Bamenda after a massive rock reportedly collapsed on him during a nighttime mining operation.
Local sources told BaretaNews that the victim had gone alone to the site late Saturday night to extract sand, a common practice among informal miners seeking to avoid daytime activity. While digging, a huge rock is believed to have broken loose and crushed him to death instantly.
His lifeless body remained at the scene throughout the night and into Sunday, only to be discovered in the afternoon when fellow sand miners arrived to begin work. The gruesome discovery sent shockwaves through the community as workers realised their colleague had perished hours earlier without anyone noticing.
The incident has plunged relatives, friends and fellow miners into mourning while once again exposing the harsh realities facing many young Ambazonians who risk their lives in dangerous informal jobs to earn a living amid the ongoing economic hardship.
Residents say sand mining around Chomba has become increasingly hazardous, with many workers operating at night without protective equipment or any safety oversight. The latest tragedy has renewed calls for improved safety measures to prevent further loss of life at the numerous informal mining sites scattered across Ground Zero.
