LAGOS: Gunmen riding motorbikes killed around 40 people in a deadly attack on a mining community in in the Wase district of Plateau state, northcentral Nigeria. The attackers opened fire on residents and torched homes, the local government said on Tuesday as reported by AFP.
Plateau state commissioner for information, Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, confirmed the tragic toll, saying that the attack targeted the Zurak community, renowned for its mining activities. “As we speak, about 40 people have been confirmed dead. Zurak is a popular mining community,” Ashoms lamented, highlighting the devastation wrought by the assailants.
The brutal assault, which occurred late on Monday, sent shockwaves through the region, prompting outrage and condemnation from local leaders and residents alike. Shafi’i Sambo, a youth leader, corroborated the grim casualty count, reporting that at least 42 persons fell victim to the raid.
Wase district, known for its deposits of zinc and lead, forms part of Plateau state, renowned for its tin mining industry. However, the region’s wealth in natural resources has often been overshadowed by recurrent outbreaks of violence fueled by disputes over land, resources, and ethnic rivalries.
Plateau state sits at the volatile intersection between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and Christian south, rendering it susceptible to tensions and conflicts exacerbated by socio-political and environmental factors. Climate change-induced pressures on grazing land and water access have compounded existing grievances, further inflaming intercommunal tensions.
Moreover, the pervasive threat of heavily armed criminal gangs looms large over northwest and northcentral Nigeria, perpetuating a climate of fear and insecurity. These gangs, notorious for their ruthless tactics, frequently target villages to loot, perpetrate violence, and carry out large-scale kidnappings for ransom.
In January this year, intercommunal clashes erupted in Plateau’s Mangu town that left churches and mosques burned, over 50 people dead and thousands displaced.
