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At least five miners were killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Marit village of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State on Saturday.
The attack, which reportedly occurred around 1pm, has heightened concerns about the safety of residents and workers in parts of the state already experiencing tensions following a series of attacks and killings. The victims were said to be carrying out mining activities when the gunmen struck, killing five people and wounding two others. Project reports
The incident comes days after another mining-related tragedy in Plateau State, where four suspected illegal miners died following the collapse of a sand pit in Tangur community in Bokkos LGA.
The two incidents, although occurring under different circumstances, have drawn new attention to the risks faced by people engaged in mining and other mineral-related activities across the state.
Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) spokesperson Rwang Tengwong confirmed Marit’s attack, saying five people were killed while two others were injured.
He described the development as “sad and painful”, saying the community is once again mourning the loss of life due to violence. Tengwong condemned the attack and called on security agencies to urgently strengthen measures to protect communities and prevent further attacks.
The community launches an appeal for greater protection
Community member Simon Mundat also confirmed the death toll, describing the loss of life as devastating.
Mundat said the community was deeply saddened by the killing of five miners and the wounding of 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 places in the area, especially as continued attacks could further weaken economic activities and increase anxiety among residents.
The latest incident adds to the growing security burden in parts of the Plateau where rural communities have repeatedly come under attacks, forcing residents to cope with threats as they pursue farming, mining and other livelihoods.
Mining tragedies raise broader concerns
Marit’s attack also comes at a time when mining-related incidents have attracted increased attention across Nigeria.
In Plateau State, four suspected illegal miners were killed on Tuesday when a sand excavation site collapsed in Tangur, Bokkos LGA. Troops reportedly responded to the scene and confirmed the deaths, while the bodies were later recovered by relatives for burial. Authorities are said to have launched further investigations into the circumstances of the collapse and the extent of unregulated mining activities at the site.
The Plateau developments coincided with a much larger mining controversy in neighboring Niger State, where 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) earlier this month.
The miners were arrested during enforcement operations at mining sites around the MI 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 people 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 erase their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody, and ordered that the circumstances surrounding their arrests, detention and deaths be thoroughly investigated.
The Niger tragedy has therefore added another dimension to the national debate on mining: in addition to tackling the illegal extraction of mineral resources, authorities must also address issues relating to the protection of miners, monitoring procedures and the safety of communities around mining sites.
No official security account yet
At the time of writing this report, security agencies had not provided official information on the Marit attack.
As a result, details regarding the identity of the attackers, their motive, whether any suspects were arrested, and the circumstances leading 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 safety in the affected area.
Curfew remains in force in the affected areas
The attack came against the backdrop of the dusk to dawn curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government in three local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, following the recent attacks and killings.
The state government had introduced the measure as part of efforts to restore law and order in the affected communities. The administration also urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding as security agencies work to contain the situation.
Information and Communications Commissioner Joyce Ramnap on Friday condemned the attacks in the affected communities and appealed to residents to cooperate with the authorities.
The latest incident in Marit, however, is likely to put renewed pressure on authorities to strengthen security in vulnerable communities, particularly in places where residents are engaged in mining and other economic activities outside major urban centers.
Reportedly repelled attack on 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.
Community member Danat Noel said security personnel and local hunters responded quickly after the attackers moved into the area and engaged them, forcing them to retreat.
The account could not be independently verified at the time of submission, while details of possible victims of the encounter were not immediately available.
With the latest developments in Barkin Ladi coming shortly after the Bokkos mine collapse and against the backdrop of the deaths of alleged illegal miners in Niger state, the safety of people working in Nigeria’s mining sector is once 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, while the community awaits further official information on the attack and measures to prevent it from happening again.
