Three women have been killed and another person injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack occurred at about 4:30pm on Monday when the gunmen reportedly stormed the mining site and opened fire on workers before fleeing the area.
The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos, according to Daily Trust.
Tengwong said three women were killed while another person sustained injuries in the attack.
“The incident happened at Rakum. Three women were killed while another person was injured, when the attackers stormed the mining site and opened fire,” he said.
He expressed concern over the security situation in the community, describing the attack as another incident raising questions about the safety of residents and workers operating in the area.
Tengwong called on security agencies to immediately launch efforts to track down the attackers, identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“We are calling on the security operatives to immediately go after the perpetrators and ensure that those responsible are arrested and brought to justice,” he said.
A member of the affected community, John Silas, also confirmed the attack, saying the incident occurred in the evening while miners were carrying out their activities.
The latest attack has heightened concerns among residents over the safety of people working and living around mining communities in Barkin Ladi, an area that has previously witnessed security challenges.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Plateau State Police Command on the identities of the attackers, the motive for the assault or whether any arrests had been made.
Chronicles Reporters could not independently verify the identities of the victims or establish the circumstances that led to the attack beyond the accounts provided by community representatives.