At least 12 miners have been killed and three others abducted following an attack by gunmen on a mining site in Fan community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to Channels Television, the attack occurred at about 9:00 pm on Tuesday while the victims were engaged in legal mining activities. Five other miners sustained injuries during the assault.
Witnesses said the assailants stormed the mining site in large numbers and opened fire indiscriminately, causing panic and leading to multiple casualties on the spot.
The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while security operatives have launched efforts to rescue those abducted by the attackers.
The incident has heightened fear in the community, which has witnessed repeated episodes of violence linked to mining activities in recent times.
Attempts to get a reaction from the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack comes months after a similar tragedy in September, when four miners died after a mining pit collapsed in Dura community, Jos South LGA. The incident occurred at night when the ground caved in while the miners were working underground.