Seven Killed in Separate Incidents in Plateau as Vigilantes Are Ambushed, Miners Die in Pit Collapse

At least seven people have been killed in two separate incidents in Plateau State, following an ambush on community vigilantes in Mangu Local Government Area and the collapse of a sand excavation pit in Bokkos Local Government Area.

Three Mwaghavul vigilantes were reportedly killed by gunmen on Tuesday night at the Kyikyau–Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area.

The attack occurred at about 9:39 p.m., despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew currently in place in parts of the state.

The victims were identified as 45-year-old Samson Dachet, 50-year-old Gambo Fwangyil and 35-year-old Zughumnan Bamaiyi.

The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) condemned the attack, saying the three men were among residents involved in protecting their community when they were ambushed.

In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joël Sunday, on behalf of the group’s President, Comr. Kyesmang Jonathan Yusuf, the organisation called on the Plateau State Government to urgently review the implementation of the curfew in Mangu.

The group questioned how effective the curfew could be if armed attackers were still able to operate during the restricted hours.

According to the MYM, the current arrangement could expose already vulnerable communities to further danger, particularly those that depend on recognised community vigilance structures to protect residents, homes, farms and other properties.

The group argued that while law-abiding residents are required to remain indoors during the curfew period, criminals may continue to move freely and carry out attacks.

The MYM, however, clarified that it was not demanding the cancellation of measures introduced to protect lives.

Instead, it called for the security arrangements to be strengthened to ensure that communities are not left without protection during the restricted hours.

It urged the Plateau State Government and security agencies to provide adequate security coverage through regular patrols, rapid-response teams, intelligence-led operations and proper coordination with recognised community vigilance groups.

The organisation also stressed the need for authorities to assess the impact of the curfew on communities that remain vulnerable to attacks after nightfall.

Meanwhile, four suspected illegal miners reportedly died in a separate incident in Tangur community, Bokkos Local Government Area, after a sand excavation pit collapsed on them.

A resident, Maren Jacob, said the incident happened at about 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to Jacob, the victims were excavating sand along a riverbank in the community when the pit suddenly collapsed, trapping them underneath.

He said the victims’ relatives later recovered their bodies for burial arrangements.

As of the time of filing the report, efforts to obtain comments from security authorities regarding the two incidents had not yielded any response.

The two incidents bring the reported death toll to seven, highlighting continuing security and safety concerns in parts of Plateau State.

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