Plateau State security authorities have confirmed the killing of seven youths at an illegal mining site near Kavitex, Kuru, in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA), describing the incident as a tragic consequence of violations of state mining laws and unsafe practices.
According to a report by security analyst Zagazola Makama, police sources said the victims — Dung Gyang, 19; Weng Dung, 26; Francis Paul, 25; Samuel Peter, 22; Dung Simon, 28; Pam Dung, 23; and Francis Markus, 15 — were shot dead by yet-to-be-identified armed men at about 2:00 a.m. on Thursday while engaging in illegal mining activities.
The sources said troops of Sector 6, Operation Safe Haven (OPEP), alongside the police, immediately mobilized to the site and conducted a thorough sweep of the area.
At the scene, security operatives recovered ten spent cases of 7.62mm ammunition, indicating that the attackers were heavily armed. The bodies of the victims were later moved to the Primary Health Care Centre, Dabwak, Kuru, to enable their families to make burial arrangements.
Preliminary investigations by security forces, according to the report, suggest that the attackers may have targeted the site to seize illegally mined minerals from the closed mining location at Capitex, Kuru.
Security sources said the victims’ decision to remain at the mining site late into the night, in violation of Plateau State’s ban on night and illegal mining, made them especially vulnerable.
“The miners’ continued operations in contravention of the extant laws, combined with the clandestine nature of illegal mining, significantly increased their exposure and contributed to this tragic outcome,” the security sources said.
Authorities further noted that an estimated eight-hour delay in reporting the incident to security agencies was likely due to fear of sanctions linked to the prohibition of night mining.
Officials warned that such delays often hamper swift security responses and give perpetrators a tactical advantage.
In response to the attack, troops of Sector 6 OPEP have intensified both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the area. Sustained patrols, intelligence-driven offensives, and community engagement initiatives are ongoing to identify, track, and apprehend those responsible, while also addressing underlying conflict triggers and preventing further attacks.
The police, on their part, reiterated their commitment to restoring law and order, assuring residents that security operatives would maintain a strong presence in Kuru and other mining communities to prevent security breakdowns.
Authorities also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information on suspicious movements or criminal activities, stressing that fear of sanctions should not discourage prompt reporting.
Meanwhile, sources from the Plateau State Government emphasized that strict enforcement of mining laws is necessary to protect miners and the general public. Officials appealed to youths to comply with existing regulations, including the ban on night mining, and to operate only at officially approved sites under regulated conditions.
The Kuru killings are the latest in a series of attacks across Jos South, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs, where illegal mining sites have repeatedly become targets for armed groups exploiting soft targets amid an escalating cycle of violence in Plateau State.
Makama linked the attack to a broader spiral of violence in Plateau, noting that what began as disputes over land and livelihoods has evolved into retaliatory patterns involving cattle rustling, livestock poisoning, and armed raids, drawing entire communities into fear and insecurity. The Gakok attack, he said, did not occur in isolation.
“It is the tragic crest of a wave that has been rising across the Barkin Ladi–Riyom–Jos South axis,” Makama said.
Post A Comment: