Three people have died in separate incidents in Plateau State within 24 hours, as a mining pit collapse claimed the life of a 35-year-old miner while gunmen killed two residents in attacks on communities in Mangu Local Government Area.
The miner, identified as Ibrahim Jabir, reportedly died on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after a mining pit collapsed at Asaradan village in Jos East Local Government Area.
Security sources said troops of Operation Enduring Peace responded to a distress call at about 11.10 am. However, when they arrived at the scene, community members had already recovered the miner’s body.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers associated with illegal mining, particularly poorly constructed pits and the absence of adequate safety measures.
Community members have called on the relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring of mining activities and prevent further loss of lives.
In a separate incident, two people were killed and five others injured when gunmen attacked Toul and Halle communities in Mangu Local Government Area on Sunday night.
A resident, Gabriel Titus, said the attackers stormed the communities at about 9 pm and opened fire on residents.
According to him, one person was killed and four others injured in Toul, while another person died and one other sustained injuries in Halle.
The attacks reportedly occurred despite a curfew imposed by the state government, raising fresh concerns among residents about the effectiveness of security measures in the affected communities.
Titus appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance, enforce the curfew and track down those responsible for the killings.
Another resident, Joshua Dawan, expressed concern over the recurring violence, saying residents were increasingly living in fear.
Meanwhile, community leader Silas Izang described the miner’s death as avoidable, blaming unsafe and unregulated mining operations for exposing young people to life-threatening risks.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time the report was filed.
The incidents have heightened calls for stronger security operations and stricter enforcement of mining safety regulations across Plateau State to protect lives and prevent further tragedies.
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