Plateau Vigilantes Neutralize Four Suspected Attackers at Mining Site

Four individuals, believed to be among those who launched an assault on a mining location in Nyango, Gyel District, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, have been confirmed dead. The incident, which occurred on Monday, June 29, saw miners extracting solid minerals come under attack, resulting in the demise of three people and injuries to two others.

Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary for the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), confirmed these developments in a statement released in Jos on Wednesday, July 1. According to Tengwong, local vigilante groups swiftly mobilized following the initial assault, leading to a confrontation that resulted in the neutralization of four suspected attackers, while others managed to flee the scene.

Tengwong firmly refuted assertions made by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), which claimed that the four deceased were its members killed in the Gero–Rafin Bauna vicinity of Jos South. He maintained that the local vigilantes engaged the armed assailants in the aftermath of the mining site attack.

“The attention of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), under the leadership of Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, has been drawn to claims by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) alleging that four of its members were k!lled around the Gero–Rafin Bauna axis of Jos South Local Government Area,” the BYM statement read. The association deemed MACBAN’s claim not only misleading but also an unfortunate attempt to misrepresent the circumstances surrounding the violent incident that claimed innocent lives in Nyango.

Information gathered by BYM suggests that the four deceased were part of a heavily armed group, numbering over 40, who stormed the Nyango mining site on June 29, opening fire on local miners. This unprovoked assault prompted local vigilante members from Gyel to mobilize in defense of their communities and livelihoods, leading to the confrontation where the attackers were neutralized.

BYM raised critical questions for authorities and the public: “What were armed individuals doing in a mining community that is not known to be a grazing settlement? Why were they present in such numbers and under such circumstances? What was the mission that brought them to Nyango on that day?” The association urged security agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the Nyango attack, including the identities and activities of those killed.

In a separate but related incident, the statement also reported that two individuals lost their lives after gunmen reportedly opened fire on residents of Zargwok community in Gashish District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. This attack, according to BYM, took place around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. Tengwong identified the victims as Ayuba Danladi, 33, and Luka Macham, 35, who were reportedly on community patrol when they were ambushed and killed. He characterized this incident as part of a series of ongoing attacks in the region, calling for urgent intervention from security agencies. The remains of the victims have been deposited at the ECWA Clinic mortuary.

BYM reiterated its call for security agencies to identify those responsible and conduct comprehensive investigations into both incidents. “We call on authorities to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities, apprehend the perpetrators and restore public confidence in the protection of lives and property,” the statement concluded.