By Sandra Kenneth
At least five miners were killed and two others critically injured on Saturday following an ambush by unidentified gunmen at a mining site in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack occurred around 1:00 p.m. at Marit village, where local miners were engaged in routine operations. The sudden assault has thrown the local community into mourning and sparked renewed concerns over worsening security in the state’s rural districts.
Confirming the casualties, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, condemned the killings and called for immediate security intervention.
“It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said. He urged security forces to step up patrols and forestall further attacks on vulnerable communities.
A local resident, Simon Mundat, described the assault as devastating, appealing to the state government and law enforcement agencies to reinforce safety measures so citizens can pursue their livelihoods without fear of attack.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Phone calls and messages sent to the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, went unanswered.
In a separate security development, joint forces comprising security operatives and local vigilantes successfully repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on Latok community in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A community source, Mr. Danat Noel, disclosed that the assailants invaded the village on Friday but were forced to retreat following a prompt, coordinated counter-response by local hunters and security personnel.
