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A deadly attack on a mining site in the Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, has left seven people dead.
It was learnt that the attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, also left others injured.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Artisanal Mining, Emmanuel Solomon, confirmed the killings to PUNCH Online in Jos on Thursday.
Solomon said, “I have just been informed about the attack in the Kuru community which happened yesterday night. Seven people died in the attack. I’m about to go to the community to see things by myself.”
Describing the incident as “rather unfortunate,” he noted that it follows a string of similar assaults on miners in the council area.
“Just before yesterday, in another community in Gyel, they attacked three people, but one of them escaped. Unfortunately, two died. The victims were on their way to a mining site when they were ambushed and killed,” he explained.
He added that two weeks earlier, gunmen ambushed another group of miners, killing two and injuring one.
“The one injured is currently at Lome Hospital receiving treatment, and the one who died is my younger brother. It’s unfortunate that some people are just moving about killing innocent people in the state,” Solomon revealed, his voice heavy with grief.
Solomon stressed that the situation “requires urgent attention” and pledged that the state government will “look into the matter so that miners can have security back‑up going forward.”
When contacted, the Jos South Area Commander of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, Pam Gyang Pwajok, denied knowledge of the incident.
“Let me find out what happened. I will get back to you”, he said.
The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached immediately as his phone was switched off.
PUNCH Online reports that the latest violence adds to a growing pattern of attacks on mining communities in Plateau, raising concerns over the safety of artisanal miners and the urgent need for enhanced security measures in Jos South and other parts of the state.
