At least five miners were shot dead and two others wounded after gunmen stormed a mining site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Saturday, July 26, 2026. The attack occurred around 1pm amid mounting tension in several parts of the state.
Berom Youth Moulders-Association Confirms Attack
Rwang Tengwong, spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), confirmed the incident, describing it as a painful blow to communities that have repeatedly suffered deadly violence. He said the attack has left the community in mourning.
"Five persons were killed while two others sustained injuries in the attack. It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence," Tengwong said.
He added: "We condemn this attack and call on the security agencies to urgently take steps to protect our communities and prevent further attacks."
Community Members Demand Stronger Security
Simon Mundat, a member of the affected community, also confirmed the deaths and called on the government to act. He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and appealed for enhanced security measures in the area.
"We are deeply saddened by this attack. Five people have been killed and two others injured. This is a very painful situation for the community. We appeal to the authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear," he said.
The Operation Enduring Peace spokesman, Captain Polycarp Oteh, and Plateau State Police Command spokesman, SP Alabo Alfred, had not responded to inquiries at the time of this report.
Curfew and Government Response
The attack comes days after the Plateau State government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on three local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, in a bid to restore order following a wave of attacks and killings earlier in the week.
The Information Commissioner, Joyce Ramnap, in a statement on Friday, condemned the ongoing violence in the affected communities and urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
Security Forces Repel Separate Attack in Qua'an-Pan
In a separate development, security operatives working alongside local hunters foiled a suspected terrorist attack on the Latok community in Qua'an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Community member Danat Noel said the operatives responded quickly and engaged the attackers, forcing them to withdraw. "Security operatives, supported by local hunters, responded swiftly and engaged the attackers, forcing them to withdraw in disarray," Noel said.
The twin incidents highlight the persistent security crisis facing Plateau State, where multiple communities have been targeted in recent weeks.
