A fresh wave of violence has been recorded in Plateau State following an armed attack on a mining site in Gero village, Gyel District, Jos South Local Government Area, leaving at least five people dead and several others injured.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 16, when suspected armed herders reportedly stormed the mining site at about 3 p.m. and opened fire on workers engaged in mining activities.
According to residents, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and launched a sudden and coordinated assault, killing five youths on the spot while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The attack reportedly came just hours after another violent incident near the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, located a few kilometres away, where three security personnel were killed in a separate assault.
A community member, Festus Dalyop, confirmed the mining site attack, explaining that the victims were working when the gunmen invaded the area and began shooting indiscriminately.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth-Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, also condemned both incidents, describing them as a worrying escalation of insecurity in the area. He warned that the repeated attacks around strategic institutions and neighbouring communities were raising fears among residents.
Tengwong called on security agencies to intensify operations and restore confidence, noting that residents now live in fear due to the increasing frequency of violent attacks.
He further urged authorities to strengthen surveillance and improve protection for both communities and critical national facilities in the region.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, said investigations have commenced and security operatives are already on the trail of the attackers.