Gunmen killed seven young miners in a deadly overnight attack on an illegal mining site near Kuru, Jos South, Plateau State.
The assailants stormed the mining location around 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, and opened fire on the workers.
Security forces from Sector 6 Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and police rushed to the scene, recovered the bodies, and found ten spent 7.62mm shell casings left behind by the heavily armed attackers.
Authorities identified the victims—all youths—as Dung Gyang (19), Weng Dung (26), Francis Paul (25), Samuel Peter (22), Dung Simon (28), Pam Dung (23), and Francis Markus (15).
Troops moved the bodies to the Primary Health Care Centre in Dabwak, Kuru, for families to handle burial arrangements.
Plateau State security officials confirmed the killings and pointed directly to violations of the state’s ban on night mining and illegal operations.
They stated that the clandestine nighttime activities turned the site into a soft target, likely for attackers seeking to seize illegally mined minerals.
An eight-hour delay in reporting the incident—stemmed from fear of sanctions—further hampered a swift response.
The attack fits into a broader pattern of violence across Jos South, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas.
Illegal mining sites repeatedly attract armed groups amid escalating farmer-herder tensions, cattle rustling, and reprisal cycles that have plagued the region for years.
Plateau Youth Council (Jos South chapter) mourned the victims as hardworking individuals who sought only to earn a living.
Secretary-General Gyang Sunday Pwajok described the killings as gruesome and senseless, and called for stricter regulation of mining sites, stronger security coordination, and an end to night operations to prevent such tragedies.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the barbaric act and stressed ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace.
Police pledged intensified patrols and a visible presence in mining communities, while urging residents to report suspicious activities promptly without fear of penalties.
This latest bloodshed underscores the deadly risks tied to unregulated mining in Plateau State, where economic desperation collides with persistent insecurity.
Authorities now intensify kinetic operations, intelligence gathering, and community engagement to track the perpetrators and break the cycle of violence.
