The entire Jos South local government area of Plateau State has been thrown into mourning while air of apprehension pervade the council area as gunmen suspected to be killer herdsmen gun down eight miners at a mining site in the area.
A source close to the scene of the incident who escaped by the whisker said the gunmen invaded the mining site of Cabitex Company behind Government Science School Kuru in Jos South local government at about 7:25 pm on Friday and opened fire at the miners at random, killing eight of them on the spot while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The Chairman of Kuru Development Association, Barrister Daniel Chapo who confirmed the unfortunate incident to Tribune Online said the local government in recent times had witnessed series of unprovoked attacks from suspected herdsmen.
According to him, the attack on the miners were carried out when they were preparing to close for the day adding that apart from the eight that were killed and those who sustained injuries are now recieving treatment at various hospitals and clinics within the council area, some of the miners were still missing.
Also, the Cordinator, Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN Barrister Dalyop Solomon said the attack was a rude shock to the people of the local government and the immediate community adding that one of those killed was beheaded and his head taken away by the attackers.
Barrister Solomon who said the people of the community have commenced search for those that have not been seen since the incident occurred on Friday, also expressed surprise that security agents only arrived the scene on Satuday morning.
He, therefore, called on the state and federal governments to come to the aid of the people of the entire Northern part of the state adding that attack by killers herdsmen has become a recurring decimal in the area.
“Presently, many farmers cannot access their farms, in some cases farm lands are willingly destroyed by these elements. I am appealing to governments both at the state and federal levels to give security of citizenry adequate attention. These people were at the mining site to fend to themselves and thier families when they were killed in a barbaric way.”
Those killed at the mining site are Mrs. Talatu Sunday, Mrs. Jumai Useini, Mr. Davou Dalyop Pwol (beheaded), Mr. Gyang Joseph Nyam, Mr. Gabriel Nuhu, Mrs Nvou Dung, Mrs Dung Monday and Mrs. Shabang
All efforts to get the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Ubah Ogabah proved abortive as he could not be reached on his phone.
