Three women were killed and another person injured when gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Monday. The attackers stormed the site around 4:30 pm and opened fire on workers before fleeing.
The spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident. “This is another sad development that has further heightened concerns over the safety of people working and living in the area,” he said. “We are calling on security operatives to immediately go after the perpetrators and ensure that those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.”
A community member, John Silas, said the attack occurred around 4 pm. “We are deeply worried because people should be able to go about their legitimate businesses without being attacked,” he said. “We are appealing to the security operatives to intensify efforts to track down the attackers and prevent further attacks in the community.”
The attack comes amid a resurgence of deadly violence across Plateau State. On Saturday, six people were reportedly killed at Laja village in Mangu. Vigilantes were also killed at their duty post in Kikyo village, Mangu, during curfew hours. Attacks have been reported in Cantoma and Bin-Per villages in Mangu and Kasa village in the Marit District of Barkin Ladi.
The state government imposed a curfew in response to the violence. The curfew has not stopped the attacks. The four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State have condemned the killings. The Plateau State Police Command spokesman, Alabo Alfred, was not available for comment when contacted.
This mirrors the pattern of communal violence that has persisted in Plateau State for over two decades. The violence is often framed as farmer-herder conflict, but the reality is more complex. Land disputes, political competition, criminal opportunism and the proliferation of small arms all contribute. Mining sites have become targets because they concentrate workers in remote locations with limited security presence.
The women killed in Rakum were working at a mining site. They were not combatants. They were earning a living. The attack was not an act of war. It was an act of predation.
Winners and Losers
Winners: The attackers, who escaped without arrest. Criminal networks, which benefit from the perception of impunity in rural Plateau.
Losers: The three women killed and the injured survivor. Their families, who lose breadwinners and loved ones. Mining communities across Plateau, who face a choice between livelihood and safety. The Plateau State government, whose curfew has failed to prevent repeated attacks. Security agencies, whose inability to protect rural communities erodes public trust.
Bottom Line: A curfew that does not stop killings is not a security strategy. Plateau State needs protection for its people, not restrictions on their movement.