Key Points

• Gunmen kill 12 miners during a night attack on a Plateau mining site.

• Five miners suffer injuries, while attackers abduct three victims on motorcycles.

• Police launch a manhunt as community leaders demand urgent security action.

At least 12 artisanal miners were killed, five others injured, and three abducted after suspected herdsmen attacked a mining site in Ratoso community, Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, according to an eyewitness who escaped the violence.

The assailants, described as heavily armed and operating in large numbers, opened fire on miners working at the site.

How the attack unfolded

The witness explained that the miners were engaged in night operations when the gunmen struck. Many of the victims, focused on digging activities, had little chance to escape or defend themselves.

Five miners sustained gunshot wounds while trying to flee. Residents reported that the attackers had hidden in the community before launching the assault, catching the miners off guard.

The gunmen later abducted three victims and rode away on motorcycles, prompting fears for their safety.

Community reacts with fear and grief

Residents of Ratoso expressed deep concern over the abducted miners, noting that while the bodies of those killed were visible, the fate of the abducted remained unknown.

A community member described the situation as distressing, explaining that families were struggling to cope with the uncertainty surrounding their loved ones.

Youth leader confirms casualties

The National President of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, confirmed the attack while at the scene.

He explained that local efforts were underway to bury the 12 victims, while the injured had been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

He described the abduction as the most troubling aspect of the incident and appealed to security agencies, particularly operatives of Operation Enduring Peace, to act swiftly to secure the release of those taken.

Dalyop added that the community remained in deep mourning as residents grappled with the scale of the violence.

Earlier warnings and rising attacks

Dalyop disclosed that community leaders received early warnings earlier in the month about possible attacks on Plateau communities before and during the Christmas season.

He added that, only a week earlier, four communities came under simultaneous attacks by armed groups.

According to him, the latest assault reinforced fears that criminal groups continue to exploit security gaps across the state.

He also raised concerns about what he described as weak national response to terrorism, despite Nigeria’s designation by the United States as a Country of Particular Concern.

Police confirm investigation

The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the attack. Police spokesman SP Alfred Alabo explained that the Divisional Police Officer in the area, alongside his officers, remained in nearby bush paths, working with local residents to track and arrest the attackers.

He added that investigations were ongoing and that the command would brief journalists once preliminary findings were completed.