Gunmen attack mining site in Plateau, kill three, injure others
At least three artisanal miners were confirmed dead and several others injured following an attack at a mining site in the Jol community of Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. Local authorities suspect the assailants were Fulani militias.
Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), issued a statement on Wednesday morning detailing the incident. He reported that the attackers arrived at the site around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, opening fire indiscriminately and forcing workers to flee for their safety.
Tengwong cited a survivor who claimed the assailants communicated in their local dialect, leading to the identification of the gunmen as Fulani militias. “The miners identified the gunmen as Fulani militias because they were speaking their Fulani language. When they arrived at the mining site in the evening at about 6 p.m., they began shooting sporadically,” he stated.
According to Tengwong, three miners were confirmed dead at the scene, while the number of injured remains unspecified. He condemned the attack, referring to the killings of the miners as both disturbing and unacceptable. He urged security agencies to conduct an urgent investigation, apprehend those responsible, and enhance protective measures for rural communities to prevent future incidents.
