Authorities in Nigeria’s Plateau State have intensified security measures in Bokkos Local Government Area following a wave of violent incidents targeting mining communities, including the suspension of all mining operations and the enforcement of a nightly curfew.
The Chairperson of Bokkos Local Government, Samuel Amalau, announced the immediate halt to all mining activities—both legal and illegal—in the Tenti and Mandar districts, effective until further notice. In a statement signed on Sunday, February 1, 2026, he cited escalating security challenges linked to mining sites and surrounding areas.
“Following the prevailing security challenges currently affecting parts of the local government, and after due consultations with relevant security agencies and stakeholders, I have approved the immediate suspension of all mining activities in Tenti and Mandar districts until further notice,” Amalau stated.
To bolster surveillance and enable more effective operations by security forces, a daily curfew from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. has been imposed across the two districts and adjoining areas. Residents have been urged to comply fully, with violators facing legal consequences, while the chairman appealed for calm and cooperation during intensified security efforts.
The measures come amid a troubling series of deadly assaults on mining sites in Plateau State. Recent incidents include:
- An attack in January 2026 that claimed at least seven lives at a mining site in the Kuru area of Jos South Local Government Area.
- A December assault in the Ratoso Fan community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where 12 people were killed.
Local officials and residents often attribute these attacks to armed militias operating within longstanding ethnic and resource-based tensions in the central region.
Fresh Violence in Riyom Even as restrictions were announced in Bokkos, new killings were reported in neighboring Riyom Local Government Area. On Thursday, at least three residents of the Kwi community lost their lives in separate incidents, according to community accounts.
Residents reported that two men were attacked and killed while working on their farms in Derigi, a sub-community of Kwi, while another individual was discovered dead nearby the same day. Dung Rwang, a sub-community leader in Derigi, described how returning farmers stumbled upon the bodies.
“This area has not been peaceful. People can no longer go freely to their farms without fear, even during the day,” he said, noting that repeated attacks have forced many residents to relocate.
Riyom, along with Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, and Mangu, remains a persistent hotspot for violence in Plateau State. Entire villages, such as those in Miango (Bassa) and Mushere (Bokkos), have faced displacement in prior attacks, with residents abandoning homes and farmlands.
The ongoing cycle of violence—targeting farmers, miners, and rural communities—continues to challenge security agencies despite ongoing military and police deployments. The Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, was unavailable for comment on the latest incidents and did not respond to inquiries.
(This article is a rewritten and adapted version based on reporting by Premium Times Nigeria.)
