Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
PLATEAU STATE, Nigeria — At least 12 people were killed and three others abducted late Tuesday when suspected armed gunmen attacked a mining site in Atoso village in Plateau State’s Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, local leaders and officials confirmed on Thursday. The assault, which also left several others injured, has once again underscored the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt region.
The deadly incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. while artisanal miners were engaged in their work at the site, members of the community said. According to Barrister Solomon Dalyop, National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), the attackers opened fire without warning, causing panic and widespread casualties. Five people were reported injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“We were going about our legitimate business when the gunmen stormed the mining site, firing indiscriminately. Many fled, but at least twelve have died and three were taken,” Dalyop told journalists. Eyewitnesses said the assailants outnumbered the miners and arrived with overwhelming force, leaving little chance for escape amid the chaos of the night attack.
Local residents and community leaders expressed deep anguish as they worked through the aftermath of the violence. The three abducted individuals were reportedly taken by the gunmen into nearby forests. Families of those missing have appealed to the authorities to speed up rescue efforts, but as of Thursday no group had claimed responsibility for the abductions or provided any contact with the captives.
This latest attack adds to a mounting series of violent incidents that have plagued Plateau State, a region beset by complex security dynamics. Ethnic and religious tensions, alongside disputes between farmers and herders, have fuelled years of conflict that often spill over into deadly targeted raids on communities and economic sites such as farms and small mining operations.
Police spokesperson Alfred Alabo confirmed that an investigation into the attack has been launched, and security personnel have been deployed to the area. Authorities said the situation remains fluid and that efforts are being coordinated to locate the abducted citizens and bring the perpetrators to justice. No official identity has yet been given for the attackers.
Analysts say that the incident reflects the broader failure of security measures in the Middle Belt, where local policing remains under-resourced and vulnerable communities are left exposed to marauding gangs. The government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen security and curb violence, but residents say these assurances have done little to prevent cycles of reprisal attacks and banditry.
In recent months, similar attacks in Plateau and neighbouring states have claimed numerous lives, displaced families, and hindered economic activity. Mining, a significant source of income for many rural dwellers, has increasingly become a target for armed groups who exploit the vulnerability of remote sites and weak state protection.
As relatives of the victims continue rescue calls and community members commence burials for those killed, pressure is mounting on state authorities to deploy additional security forces and sustain a more robust intervention strategy to stem the tide of violence in Plateau State and beyond.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments