At least seven people have died in separate incidents in Plateau State, with three community vigilantes killed in an ambush in Mangu Local Government Area and four suspected illegal miners reportedly buried in a collapsed sand excavation pit in Bokkos.
The three Mwaghavul vigilantes were ambushed and killed on Tuesday night at the Kyikyau–Gyambwas boundary in Mangu Halle District of Mangu Local Government Area.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) said the attack occurred at about 9:39 p.m. while a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government was in force in parts of the state.
The victims were identified as Samson Dachet, 45; Gambo Fwangyil, 50; and Zughumnan Bamaiyi, 35.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Tubwot Joël Sunday, on behalf of the movement’s President, Kyesmang Jonathan Yusuf, the MYM condemned the killings and called for an immediate review of the curfew arrangement in Mangu.
According to the group, the victims were among residents conducting community vigilance when the gunmen attacked them.
The MYM questioned the effectiveness of the curfew, arguing that while residents were required to remain indoors during the restricted hours, armed attackers could still move through communities.
“The Mwaghavul Youth Movement is deeply disturbed that this deadly attack occurred during the period of the newly imposed 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew,” the statement said.
The group said the curfew was introduced by the state government to protect lives and provide security agencies with an opportunity to stabilise communities affected by violence.
It, however, expressed concern that the measure could leave vulnerable communities exposed if adequate security personnel were not deployed during the restricted hours.
“We call on the Government to note that criminals do not obey curfews and only law-abiding citizens do,” the group said.
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The movement urged the Plateau State Government and security agencies to reconsider the implementation of the curfew in Mangu, particularly its implications for communities that face security threats after dusk.
It clarified that its position was not a call for the abandonment of measures aimed at protecting residents but for the existing arrangement to be strengthened.
The MYM called for increased security patrols, rapid-response capacity, intelligence-led operations and appropriate engagement with recognised community vigilance structures in affected areas.
“If the curfew is to remain in force, security agencies must ensure that affected communities receive adequate protection during the restricted hours,” the statement added.
In a separate incident in Bokkos Local Government Area, four suspected illegal miners reportedly died after a sand excavation pit collapsed at Tangur community.
A resident, Maren Jacob, said the incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to Jacob, the victims were excavating sand along a river line when the pit collapsed, trapping them underneath.
He said relatives later recovered the bodies for burial rites.
The identities of the four victims were not immediately disclosed.
Efforts to obtain comments from security agencies regarding both incidents were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The incidents add to ongoing security and safety concerns in parts of Plateau State, where communities continue to rely on a combination of formal security arrangements and local vigilance structures to protect residents.