Breaking: 5 miners killed, others injured in Plateau attack

At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau state, on Saturday.

The attack, which reportedly occurred at about 1pm, has heightened concerns over the safety of residents and workers in parts of the state already experiencing tension following a series of attacks and killings. The victims were said to have been carrying out mining activities when the gunmen struck, leaving five people dead and two others injured. Blueprint reports

The incident comes barely days after another mining-related tragedy in Plateau State, where four suspected illegal miners died following the collapse of a sand excavation pit at Tangur community in Bokkos LGA.

The two incidents, although occurring under different circumstances, have drawn fresh attention to the risks confronting people engaged in mining and other mineral-related activities across the state.

Spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the Marit attack, saying five persons were killed while two others sustained injuries.

He described the development as “sad and painful”, saying the community was once again mourning the loss of lives to violence. Tengwong condemned the attack and called on security agencies to urgently strengthen measures aimed at protecting communities and preventing further attacks.

Community appeals for stronger protection

A member of the community, Simon Mundat, also confirmed the casualty figure, describing the loss of lives as devastating.

Mundat said the community was deeply saddened by the killing of five miners and the injuries sustained by two others, stressing that residents should be able to engage in legitimate economic activities without living in fear.

He appealed to the authorities to strengthen security around the community and other vulnerable locations in the area, particularly as continued attacks could further undermine economic activities and deepen anxiety among residents.

The latest incident adds to a growing security burden in parts of Plateau where rural communities have repeatedly experienced attacks, forcing residents to contend with threats while pursuing farming, mining and other livelihoods.

Mining tragedies raise wider concerns

The Marit attack also comes at a time when mining-related incidents have attracted heightened attention across Nigeria.

In Plateau State, four suspected illegal miners were killed on Tuesday when a sand excavation pit collapsed at Tangur in Bokkos LGA. According to reports, troops responded to the scene and confirmed the deaths, while the bodies were subsequently recovered by relatives for burial. Authorities were said to have commenced further inquiries into the circumstances of the collapse and the extent of unregulated mining activities at the site.

The Plateau developments have coincided with a much larger mining-related controversy in neighbouring Niger State, where 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) earlier this month.

The miners had been arrested during enforcement operations at mining sites around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16. The deaths, discovered in the early hours of September 17, triggered investigations, public outrage and renewed questions about the treatment of persons arrested during operations against illegal mining.

The Federal Government subsequently ordered a full investigation into the Niger State deaths. President Bola Tinubu said the fact that the deceased were suspected of illegal mining did not remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody, and directed that the circumstances surrounding their arrests, detention and deaths be thoroughly investigated.

The Niger tragedy has therefore added another dimension to the national conversation around mining: beyond tackling illegal extraction of mineral resources, authorities also face questions about the protection of miners, enforcement procedures and the safety of communities around mining locations.

No official security account yet

As of the time of filing this report, no official information had been issued by the security agencies on the Marit attack.

Consequently, details concerning the identity of the attackers, their motive, whether any suspects had been arrested and the circumstances that led to the shooting could not be independently established.

The casualty figures reported in this story were confirmed by community sources, including Tengwong and Mundat. Further details are expected to emerge as authorities assess the incident and continue efforts to restore security in the affected area.

Curfew remains in force in affected areas

The attack occurred against the backdrop of a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government in three local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, following recent attacks and killings.

The state government had introduced the measure as part of efforts to restore law and order in affected communities. The administration has also urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while security agencies work to contain the situation.

On Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, condemned the attacks in affected communities and appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities.

The latest incident in Marit, however, is likely to put renewed pressure on authorities to strengthen security around vulnerable communities, particularly locations where residents engage in mining and other economic activities outside major urban centres.

Attack reportedly repelled in Qua’an Pan

Meanwhile, security operatives, working alongside local hunters, reportedly repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on Latok community in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of the state.

A member of the community, Danat Noel, said the security personnel and local hunters responded swiftly after the attackers moved into the area and engaged them, forcing the assailants to withdraw.

The account could not be independently verified as of the time of filing, while details about possible casualties from the encounter were not immediately available.

With the latest developments in Barkin Ladi coming shortly after the mining pit collapse in Bokkos and against the backdrop of the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Niger State, the safety of people working in Nigeria’s mining sector is again under scrutiny.

OU For the people of Marit, however, the immediate concern remains the loss of five lives and the recovery of the two injured victims, while the community awaits further official information on the attack and measures to prevent a recurrence.