Nigeria Mining Site Attack Kills At Least 12
At least twelve people have been killed and three others abducted following a brutal attack on a mining site in Atoso village, Plateau State, Nigeria. The incident, which occurred late Tuesday, left five more individuals hospitalized with critical gunshot wounds.
Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, the National President of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), confirmed the attack, stating that local residents have identified the perpetrators as armed Fulani militias. “The attack happened on Tuesday evening, and we have recovered at least twelve bodies,” Mwantiri said.
The Plateau State Police Command, through its spokesperson Alfred Alabo, acknowledged the attack and confirmed that investigations are actively underway to apprehend those responsible and secure the release of the abducted persons. “We are on the ground and working to restore order. The investigation is progressing,” Alabo stated.
This latest tragedy highlights the escalating insecurity plaguing Plateau State, a known flashpoint in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt region. Deadly clashes between farmers and herders, often fueled by ethnic and religious tensions, continue to erupt despite repeated assurances and vows by the government to restore peace and security.
Mwantiri further revealed that the attack followed closely on the heels of another incident where four children were killed in a nearby village just days prior. He accused the authorities of failing to heed early warning signs and proactively address the deteriorating security situation. “We warned them, but our cries fell on deaf ears,” he lamented.
The Berom Youth Moulders-Association is now appealing to the Nigerian government to urgently deploy additional security forces to the region. They are also calling for strict enforcement of the ban on open grazing and immediate action to rescue the victims who remain in the hands of their abductors. The BYM fears further attacks if security measures aren’t significantly bolstered.
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