A group of armed assailants targeted a mining site in the Kuru area of Jos South Local Government in Plateau State, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven individuals.
The violent incident occurred on the night of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and left multiple others injured in its wake.
Emmanuel Solomon, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Artisanal Mining, verified the fatalities, providing details to local media in Jos on Thursday.
"I was informed about an attack in the Kuru community that took place last night. Seven lives were lost in this incident. I am planning to visit the community to assess the situation firsthand," he stated.
He characterized the event as “extremely unfortunate,” emphasizing that it is part of an alarming trend of assaults targeting miners within the local council area.
“Just a day prior, another attack occurred in the Gyel community where three individuals were assaulted; fortunately, one managed to escape. Sadly, two people were killed during that attack. They were ambushed on their way to a mining site,” he elaborated.
Additionally, he mentioned that only two weeks before this latest incident, assailants had ambushed another group of miners, resulting in two fatalities and one injury.
“The injured person is currently receiving treatment at Lome Hospital, and one of the deceased was my younger brother. It’s distressing that individuals are roaming freely, taking the lives of innocent people in our state,” Solomon expressed, his tone filled with sorrow.
He underscored the urgent need for intervention, asserting, “This situation demands immediate action, and I assure you that the state government will investigate this matter to ensure that miners receive adequate security in the future.”
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