Gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Monday, killing three women and injuring one other person. The attack occurred around 4:30 pm when the assailants stormed the site and opened fire on workers before fleeing. The killings came days after six people were reportedly killed at Laja village in Mangu and vigilantes were killed at their duty post in Kikyo village.
The violence has direct implications for Plateau’s mining ambitions. The state holds significant deposits of tin and columbite, and the Federal Government has identified solid minerals as a pillar of economic diversification. But a study on mining expansion in Benue, Plateau and Kaduna found that while mining-related violence is mostly sporadic, growing tensions could escalate as influential investors move into areas with limited state oversight. The research, conducted for the UK-funded SPRiNG programme, highlighted that conflict drivers differ across states, with localised disputes in Plateau and deeper links to non-state armed groups in Kaduna.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has alleged that the rising wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across the country is linked to an aggressive bid by speculative global capital to seize control of mineral-rich territories. Recent arrests of foreign nationals involved in informal mining in Plateau have added to local resentment. Respondents in the SPRiNG study warned that foreign investors might one day bring in private security or even bandits to displace resistant communities.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has banned night grazing and mining in attack communities. He has appealed to the media to shun divisive narratives that could discourage investors, insisting that Plateau remains the “Home of Peace and Tourism.” The four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State have condemned the recent killings.
Winners and Losers
Winners: Criminal networks, which operate with impunity in remote mining areas. Speculative investors, who may acquire mineral rights at depressed valuations if violence depresses prices.
Losers: The three women killed at Rakum and their families. Mining communities across Plateau, who face a choice between livelihood and safety. Legitimate investors, who face prohibitive operational risks. The Plateau State government, whose “Home of Peace” branding struggles against the reality of repeated attacks.
Bottom Line: A mining sector cannot grow on a foundation of insecurity. Plateau has the minerals. It does not yet have the security to extract them. Until it does, investors will look elsewhere