7 Killed In Separate Incidents In Plateau

At least seven people have been killed in separate incidents in Plateau State, with three Mwaghavul vigilantes ambushed in Mangu Local Government Area and four suspected illegal miners dying in a sand pit collapse in Bokkos LGA.

The three vigilantes were ambushed and killed by gunmen on Tuesday night at the Kyikyau-Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District, Mangu LGA.

The attack occurred at about 9:39 p.m., during the ongoing 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government in parts of the state.

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

The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joël Sunday, condemned the attack and called for an immediate review of the curfew arrangement in Mangu.

The group said the victims were residents keeping watch over their community when they were ambushed, questioning the effectiveness of the curfew if armed attackers could still operate during the restricted hours.

The MYM expressed concern that the curfew could leave vulnerable communities exposed, particularly those that depend on organised vigilance to protect their homes, farms and families.

It urged the Plateau State Government and security agencies to strengthen protection for affected communities through effective patrols, rapid response, intelligence-led operations and proper engagement with recognised community vigilance groups.

In a separate incident, four suspected illegal miners died after a sand excavation pit collapsed at Tangur community in Bokkos LGA.

A resident, Maren Jacob, said the incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday while the victims were excavating sand along a river line. He added that their relatives recovered the bodies for burial, while efforts to obtain comments from security operatives were unsuccessful.