The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the killing of seven persons at a mining site in Kuru District, Jos South Local Government Area, describing the incident as a brutal and senseless act that underscores the worsening security situation in the state.
The condemnation comes barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army confirmed that seven illegal miners were shot dead in the early hours of Thursday when suspected armed bandits attacked an illegal mining site at Capitex, Kuru.
According to the Army, troops of Sector 6, Operation Safe Haven, reported that the attackers struck at about 1:00 a.m., killing seven locals before fleeing the area.
In a press statement issued on Friday and signed by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Choji Dalyop, the opposition party said the latest killings expose what it described as the government’s “egregious failure” to protect lives and guarantee basic security for citizens.
“We have noted with grave concern and strongly condemn the tragic killing of seven innocent citizens in their prime at a mining site in Wat, Kuru District, Jos South LGA of Plateau State,” the party said, describing the attackers as “enemies of the state.”
The PDP linked the Kuru attack to a long-standing and poorly addressed security crisis in Plateau State, warning that recurring incidents of violence continue to erode public confidence in governance and democratic institutions.
“The senseless loss of life is a grim testament to the persistent security challenges in the state and the government’s lack of proactiveness and apparent indifference to the safety and welfare of the people it was elected to serve,” the statement read.
Citing the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the party stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, arguing that repeated attacks and the failure to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators amount to a “serious dereliction of duty” under Section 14(2) of the Constitution.
The PDP also recalled the findings of a fact-finding committee set up by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang in 2025 to investigate incessant killings across the state.
According to the party, the report revealed that many of the attackers allegedly came from neighbouring states and that violence had spread across no fewer than 420 communities.
The report further indicated that thousands of residents—mostly women, children and the elderly—had been displaced, with nearly 12,000 lives reportedly lost over time.
“Plateau State cannot afford to treat such atrocities as business as usual,” the PDP warned, describing the violence as “well-coordinated, deliberate and devastating,” and a threat to the state’s long-standing image as the Home of Peace and Tourism.
Against this backdrop, the party issued three key demands: a transparent and impartial investigation into the Kuru killings with findings made public; the swift prosecution of those responsible to ensure accountability and deterrence; and the development of a clear, actionable security strategy to address the root causes of insecurity in the state.
“The art of rhetoric and routine condemnations will not suffice,” the statement added. “The people demand action, justice and a government that places the value of human life above political power.”
The PDP said it stands in solidarity with the families of the victims and affected communities, while urging national and international stakeholders to closely monitor the renewed wave of insecurity and the human rights situation in Plateau State, with a view to ensuring swift and decisive intervention.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has said troops remain deployed in Kuru and surrounding areas, with sustained intelligence-driven operations ongoing to track down and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
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