Three Women Killed, One Injured as Gunmen Attack Mining Site in Plateau
Three women have been killed and another person injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack reportedly occurred around 4:30pm on Monday when the assailants stormed the mining site and opened fire on workers before fleeing the scene.
The spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos. He said three women were killed while another person sustained injuries during the attack.
Tengwong described the incident as another troubling development that has heightened concerns over the safety of residents and workers in the area. He called on security operatives to track down the attackers and ensure that those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.
A community member, John Silas, also confirmed the attack, saying it occurred at about 4pm. He said the gunmen opened fire on people at the mining site, killing three women and injuring another person.
Silas expressed concern over the safety of people going about their lawful activities and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further attacks in the community.
The incident comes amid a resurgence of deadly attacks across Plateau State, particularly in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos local government areas, despite a curfew imposed by the state government. Six people were reportedly killed in Laja village, Mangu, on Saturday, while some vigilantes were also killed at their duty post in Kikyo village during curfew hours.
Further attacks have been reported in Cantoma and Bin-Per villages in Mangu and Kasa village in the Marit District of Barkin Ladi. The developments have drawn condemnation from the four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State. As of the time of filing the report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on Monday’s attack, while calls to the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, went unanswered.