Gunmen kill five miners, injure two in Plateau fresh attack

Five miners have reportedly been killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack occurred at about 1pm on Saturday when the assailants reportedly opened fire on people at the mining site.

The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, describing the latest killings as another painful blow to the affected communities.

“Five persons were killed while two others sustained injuries in the attack. It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said.

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He condemned the attack and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further violence.

A resident, Simon Mundat, also confirmed the casualties, saying the community was deeply saddened by the incident.

“We are deeply saddened by this attack. Five people have been killed and two others injured. This is a very painful situation for the community,” he said.

Mundat appealed to the authorities to strengthen security in the area to enable residents to carry out their legitimate activities without fear.

As of the time of filing this report, the spokesman for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh, and the Plateau State Police Command spokesman, SP Alabo Alfred, had yet to respond to inquiries about the attack.

The incident occurred days after the Plateau State Government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on three local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, following a series of violent incidents.

The state Commissioner for Information, Joyce Ramnap, had on Friday condemned the violence and urged residents to remain calm and comply with the law.

Meanwhile, in a separate security incident, security personnel and local hunters reportedly thwarted a suspected terrorist attack on Latok community in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area.

A resident, Danat Noel, said security operatives, supported by local hunters, responded to the threat and engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat.

The latest incidents have further heightened security concerns in Plateau State, where several communities have experienced attacks and loss of lives in recent weeks.