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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
It was a triple tragedy in Plateau State on Sunday as two persons were killed and five others injured in separate attacks on Toul and Halle communities in Mangu Local Government, while a 35-year-old miner died following the collapse of a mining pit in Jos East LG.
The attacks on the two communities, our correspondent gathered, occurred at about 9pm when gunmen reportedly stormed the villages simultaneously and opened fire on residents.
Gabriel Titus, a resident of Toul, confirmed the incidents to newsmen on Monday.
He said one person was killed and four others injured in the attack on Toul, while another person was killed and one sustained injuries in Halle. Both communities are in Mangu LG.
Titus said residents were taken unawares as the gunmen stormed the communities and opened fire indiscriminately.
He said: “One surprising thing about these attacks in Mangu is that the killers were able to move around despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the state. Despite the curfew, they still came and carried out the attacks.”
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He called for urgent measures to ensure strict enforcement of the curfew and appealed to the authorities to take immediate steps to protect residents of the affected communities.
Meanwhile, a 35-year-old miner, identified as Ibrahim Jabir, has died following the collapse of a mining pit in Asaradan village, Jos East LG .
The pit reportedly collapsed at about 12:10am on Sunday, trapping the victim, who died on the spot.
Peter Ajik, a resident of Jos East, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Jos on Monday, said the tragedy was another reminder of the dangers associated with illegal artisanal mining.
Ajik called for adequate measures to protect youths, who he said were particularly vulnerable to the hazards of the risky business.
“This is another reminder of the dangers associated with illegal mining activities, especially when adequate safety measures are not put in place,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, could not be reached for comments as his phone was unavailable when our correspondent attempted to contact him.
