No fewer than 12 persons have been killed following an attack by unidentified gunmen on a mining site in Plateau State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at a mining location in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state, where the assailants reportedly stormed the site and opened fire on miners and other workers.

Eyewitnesses told our source that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and began shooting indiscriminately, causing panic and forcing many workers to flee the area for safety.

A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the attackers operated for several minutes without resistance before escaping into nearby bushes.

> “They came suddenly and started shooting. Many people ran in different directions. At the end, 12 bodies were recovered at the site,” the source said.

The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the attack, describing it as “unfortunate” and assuring the public that efforts were underway to apprehend the perpetrators.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Alabo Alfred, told our source that security operatives had been deployed to the area to restore calm and prevent further attacks.

> “We can confirm that an attack took place at a mining site in Barkin Ladi, leading to the death of 12 persons. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a manhunt for the assailants,” Alfred said.

He added that investigations had commenced to determine the motive behind the attack, while patrols had been intensified around mining communities considered vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the killings, describing them as senseless and a setback to ongoing efforts to restore peace in Plateau.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Musa Ashoms, said the government was working closely with security agencies to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.

Plateau State has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years, particularly in rural and mining communities, often linked to banditry, criminality, and long-standing communal tensions.