By Ado Oyeyemi
Three women were killed and another person injured when gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 4:30pm on Monday when the attackers reportedly stormed the mining site and opened fire on people working at the location before fleeing.
The spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attack to The PUNCH in Jos on Monday.
Tengwong said three women were killed while another person sustained injuries in the attack.
He said, “The incident happened at Rakum. Three women were killed while another person was injured when the attackers stormed the mining site and opened fire.
“This is another sad development that has further heightened concerns over the safety of people working and living in the area.
We are calling on the security operatives to immediately go after the perpetrators and ensure that those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.”
A resident, John Silas, who also confirmed the incident, said the attack occurred around 4pm.
Silas said the gunmen opened fire on people at the mining site, killing three women and injuring another person.
He expressed concern over the worsening insecurity in the area and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the attackers and prevent further violence.
The latest attack comes amid renewed violence in parts of Plateau State, particularly Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos local government areas, despite the curfew imposed by the state government.
On Saturday, six people were reportedly killed in Laja village, Mangu, while some vigilantes were also killed at their duty post in Kikyo village during the curfew hours.
Other attacks were reported in Cantoma and Bin-Per villages in Mangu and Kasa village in the Marit District of Barkin Ladi, further heightening tension in the affected communities.
The development has attracted condemnation from the four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the mining site attack.
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The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was also unavailable for comment, as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
