Minna Residents Lament Incessant Attacks By Miners As 2 Die

Residents of Samande and Kafintela area of Tunga, Minna, Niger State have recounted how the Artisanal Miners mostly youth and women attacked them, killed two people and destroyed their vehicles and houses .

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the Miners who dig gold into people houses in the area were peeved by the knowledge that some of the Residents frequently reported them to security operatives.

It was learnt that the youth started vandalising vehicles and attacked anyone on sight to show their grievance over the resistance of the residents to their new trade of digging hold in residential areas.

A Resident of the area Monday Sule told LEADERSHIP Sunday that “ they destroyed the windscreen of my car , threw stone on our houses and injured some people.

“They stabbed people 2 of them died while rushing them for medical care they started the attacks from Friday evening and even today Saturday they continued until the commissioner personally came this morning to see thing for himself “

Another Resident Mohammed Garba told LEADERSHIP Sunday that “ they came from Kafintela through the Niger state Television NSTv fence and attacked us with sticks and matchet.

The state government was yet to speak on the increase in such attacks in Minna the state capital recently; by the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Wasiu Abiodun SP confirmed to LEADERSHIP Sunday that “On October 16, 2026 at about 4pm, some miscreants around Samande and Kafintela area of Tunga had a clash at NSTV junction, and in the course of the clash, one Saidu Umar 27yrs of Kafintela was stabbed with a dagger by one of the thugs who is yet to be identified, and some vehicles were also damaged.”

“The victim was rushed to a nearby medical facility where he was later confirmed dead. Police patrol teams were drafted to the location, and the miscreants were dispersed. However, the incident is under investigation with a view to arrest the perpetrators of the crime.”