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How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau
How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
The recent attack on an illegal mining site in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has again exposed the sustained fragility of security and the precarious balance between herders and local communities in the state.
On the night of 16 December 2025, gunmen, reportedly dressed in military attire, stormed a mining site at Tosho Community, rounded up illegal miners, and demanded information about the location of cattle stolen from Nding Community on 10 December. The attack left 12 miners dead, three abducted, and several others injured.
Zagazola Makama report that the attack was retaliatory, linked to the rustling of 171 cattle across Nding and Bakin Kogi communities earlier in the month. The victims, miners who were present at the site despite an extant ban on night mining, were particularly vulnerable due to the clandestine nature of the operations and the delayed reporting of the attack to security forces. Troops of Sector 2 Operation Enduring Peace responded early the following morning, conducting offensive operations to rescue the abducted and secure the area.
However, the Fann District attack represents only the latest episode in a rapidly escalating cycle of reprisal violence across Plateau State. Within days, coordinated assaults on pastoral communities in Barkin Ladi and Jos East LGAs resulted in the rustling of 168 cattle, while nine additional cows reportedly died after grazing on poisoned substances in Kwi village, Riyom LGA. These attacks, illustrated the deepening insecurity that continues to place herders, farmers and other vulnerable communities alike at risk.
In a further escalation, four children were killed in Dorong village, Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA, allegedly in reprisal for the earlier cattle rustling. Victims included Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3. Community sources indicated that the attack occurred amid a climate of fear, with residents warning that reprisals were imminent if no preventive action was taken.
Another disturbing incident in Gero village, Jos South LGA, saw the killing and injury of at least 10 cattle, reportedly by Berom militias targeting Fulani herders. Twelve others were left fatally wounded. Local sources indicated that repeated complaints to authorities regarding such attacks had yielded little response, fostering a perception of selective intervention that largely reacts to incidents affecting one side of the conflict.
Zagazola Makama, have long warned in a series of articles of this predictable pattern: attacks on herders, particularly cattle rustling and livestock poisoning, often trigger retaliatory strikes against innocent civilians, which triggers continued attacks. Despite repeated alerts, the Plateau State government and other concerned authorities have been accused of inaction or selective enforcement, which some residents allege has emboldened criminal actors and state-supported militias.
This growing environment of impunity has left communities vulnerable and created conditions where reprisal attacks are almost inevitable. While the recent attacks are universally condemned, a critical review shows that violence in Plateau often escalates when perpetrators operate with little fear of prosecution or accountability. The complicity of certain local militias and the failure of government to intervene decisively have deepened the cycle, placing innocent civilians including women and children at the highest risk.ll
Zagazola emphasized that unless the Plateau State Government and security agencies implement robust measures to arrest perpetrators on all sides, prosecute offenders, and engage in non-kinetic conflict resolution, the state is likely to witness further retaliatory violence. Immediate steps are required to address both the underlying causes of insecurity and the selective handling of incidents, which currently fuels perceptions of bias and aggravates existing ethno-religious and pastoral-farming tensions.
Without decisive action, Plateau State will continue to experience a self-perpetuating cycle of violence, where acts of aggression against one community invariably provoke retaliatory strikes on another, leaving the most vulnerable particularly children bearing the heaviest burden.
How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, under the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP), have neutralised a notorious bandit and recovered arms and ammunition during a raid on a hideout in Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted on Jan. 8 at Yolan Gboka–Yama Da Lahdi, following sustained efforts to track and arrest perpetrators of the Dec. 16, 2025 attack on illegal miners at Tosho community in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to the sources, troops made contact with the bandits during the raid and engaged them in a firefight.
“One of the bandits was neutralised during the exchange of fire and was later identified as Sadiq Isah, while others fled the area,” the sources said.
The sources added that troops subsequently exploited the hideout and recovered two AK-47 rifles and 162 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.
The recovered arms and ammunition are currently in military custody, while troops have commenced follow-up operations to intercept the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities in the area.
Zagazola reports that Operation Enduring Peace is a joint security initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability across Plateau and neighbouring states.
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to strengthen intelligence gathering and operational readiness in the face of rising security threats across the country.
The call was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a ceremony to decorate 113 newly promoted NSCDC commandants. The minister, represented by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Maj. Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd), commended the Corps for its role in protecting critical national infrastructure, lives, and property.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for strategic intelligence mapping to counter emerging threats, particularly as the Corps now shoulders additional responsibilities for the protection of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), a role previously managed by the Nigeria Police Force.
He encouraged the newly promoted officers and all personnel to uphold the confidence placed in the service by President Bola Tinubu, noting that the merit-based promotions are designed to boost morale and enhance performance.
The Commandant General of NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, urged the officers to mentor subordinates, embrace leadership responsibilities, and adhere strictly to merit-based postings. He warned against lobbying for preferred postings, affirming that performance and dedication would guide all administrative decisions.
Representing the promoted officers, Commandant Ekanem Ekpenyong pledged unwavering commitment to duty, promising to uphold integrity and the Corps’ Oath of Allegiance.
In a key highlight of the ceremony, the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Babawale was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commandant. The event also featured goodwill messages from the Controller General of Corrections, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, and representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Services.
The ceremony underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen the NSCDC and reinforce its role in Nigeria’s security architecture.
FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers
Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls
.Disburses N1bn to SMEs in 5 LGAs
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday commissioned a fully remodelled “Second Chance School” for vulnerable girls and women in Biu Local Government Area.
The newly inaugurated facility is part of a strategic initiative designed to offer adult women, including those who missed formal education or dropped out of school due to prevailing challenges, a pathway to self-reliance.
The school’s curriculum is tailored towards providing comprehensive skills’ acquisition, critical digital knowledge and basic literacy, and numeracy training.
With the Biu centre now operational, Zulum’s administration has established three such schools across the state, with existing centres already operational in Maiduguri and Bama.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has disbursed N1 billion to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across five local government areas in southern Borno.
The targeted LGAs include Biu, Hawul, Shani, Bayo and Kwaya-Kusar, with the funds intended to support entrepreneurs and enhance business sustainability.
Zulum explained that the direct injection of capital into the SME sector is essential for driving grassroots development and fostering self-reliance in the post-insurgency recovery phase.
In a related development aimed at tackling youth restiveness and promoting social stability, Governor Zulum has ordered immediate employment of 200 young individuals from the Biu Local Government Area.
After the inauguration, Zulum visited Biu Specialist Hospital where he announced the immediate and automatic employment of a number of dedicated volunteer health workers who have served tirelessly.
He also inspected the 100-unit teachers’ housing estate under construction in Biu town. The estate is part of the Borno State Government’s motivational strategy to attract and retain qualified teaching professionals in public schools.
Governor Zulum has also directed immediate commencement of rehabilitation work on the Borno State Hotel Annexe in Biu.
Zulum commissions remodelled ‘2nd chance school’ for vulnerable girls
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
Nigeria Urges Europe and Africa to Build Bridges, Not Walls
FG Urges NSCDC to Boost Intelligence as Interior Minister Decorates 113 Senior Officers
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