Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Jos, Nigeria — A deadly confrontation underscored the fragile security situation in Plateau State’s Barkin Ladi Local Government Area this week, with suspected gunmen killing at least 12 miners at an illegal mining site in the Ratoso Fan community. The attack, which also left several others injured and some individuals taken away by the assailants, has been widely condemned and is being linked to the broader cycle of cattle rustling, reprisal violence and communal tensions that have afflicted the region.
According to local residents and security sources, the gunmen stormed the mining site late on Tuesday night, opening fire on workers engaged in artisanal mining — a prevalent but unregulated economic activity in parts of Plateau State. The incident has sparked grave concern among community leaders and humanitarian observers, who note that the victims were at work when the attack occurred, with eyewitness accounts describing chaos and panic as miners fled to save their lives.
The Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation, a civil society group representing one of the dominant ethnic communities in the region, confirmed the killings and said many others remained unaccounted for as of Wednesday. The group’s chairman emphasised that the violence has raised serious questions about local security efforts and the safety of vulnerable groups in rural areas.
In tandem with this attack, three other individuals were reportedly abducted by the same gunmen, according to additional reporting, although details about their identities and condition have not yet been independently verified.
The violence in Barkin Ladi — a local government area that has been a flashpoint in Plateau State for years — is widely understood as part of a broader pattern of retaliatory conflict. In recent weeks and months, incidents of cattle rustling and reprisal attacks between pastoralist and farming communities have intensified, fueling distrust and sporadic outbreaks of deadly force. Some local and regional observers link these dynamics to actions by armed youth militias, herders responding to alleged cattle theft, and reactions to perceived aggression, creating a perilous cycle of retaliation and insecurity.
Plateau State has a long and complex history of conflict rooted in land use, cattle grazing, farming rights and ethnic affiliations, with periodic flare‑ups resulting in significant loss of life and displacement. Government responses have included restrictions on night grazing, limits on motorcycle movements, and increased security patrols, but violence continues to erupt in remote rural zones with lethal consequences.
In commenting on the mining site attack, community representatives called on both state and federal authorities to boost security presence in vulnerable areas, protect livelihoods and urgently investigate the massacre. They also appealed for calm, urging residents not to take the law into their own hands, even as many fear further reprisals could escalate tensions.
Local officials have not publicly attributed responsibility to any specific group, and investigations by security agencies, including the Nigerian Police and military units deployed in the region, were reported to be underway at the time of reporting. The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has previously pledged increased collaboration with security forces to contain unrest and address the underlying disputes that fuel clashes in Barkin Ladi and surrounding areas.
The tragic deaths of the miners illustrate the dangers facing communities caught in the crossfire of criminality and communal conflict in central Nigeria. As families mourn their losses and authorities seek accountability, residents are left grappling with the reality that livelihoods built around informal mining, pastoralism and farming have become increasingly vulnerable to violent disruption.
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