Suspected herdsmen have killed 12 artisanal miners and abducted three others in Ratoso community, Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria.
An eyewitness who escaped the attack told Tribune Online that the gunmen, who were said to be in large numbers, stormed a mining site in the community at about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and opened fire indiscriminately on the group of young miners.
Five other miners sustained injuries while attempting to flee the attack.
It was gathered that the assailants, who had allegedly been hiding in the community prior to the incident, caught the miners unawares. Most of the victims were engaged in night mining activities, leaving them with little chance to resist or escape.
Residents of the community expressed deep concern over the fate of those abducted and taken away on motorcycles by the attackers.
“We can see the bodies of those killed, but we are even more concerned about those who were abducted,” a resident said.
Confirming the incident, the National President of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, said efforts were underway to bury the deceased and treat the injured.
“At the moment, I am at the scene of the incident. We are making arrangements to bury the 12 persons killed, while those injured have been taken to the hospital,” he said.
“Our main worry right now is the three abducted persons. We are urging security agencies, particularly operatives of Operation Enduring Peace, to help secure their release. The community is currently in deep agony over this unfortunate incident.”
Barrister Dalyop disclosed that there had been an early warning earlier this month about possible attacks on several Plateau communities before and during the Christmas season. He added that four communities were attacked simultaneously by marauders last week.
He further expressed concern over what he described as the government’s slow response to security threats, despite Nigeria being designated a Country of Particular Concern by the United States.
“This recent occurrence confirms the early warning that there would be attacks before and during the Christmas season. We are surprised that, despite this designation, the Nigerian government has made little or no effort to address the nation’s security challenges,” he said.
“This also suggests that our security agencies are not living up to expectations. The protection of lives and property should be of paramount concern, but what we are experiencing falls far below expectations.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the attack, stating that the Divisional Police Officer of the area, along with his men, was in the bush working with the community to apprehend the perpetrators.
“Investigation is ongoing, and as soon as the DPO concludes his findings, we will brief journalists,” he said.
