Plateau LG chair suspends mining, imposes curfew over renewed attacks

The Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Amalau Samuel Amalau, has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities—both legal and illegal—across the council.

The measures follow a series of deadly assaults on local miners, which reportedly led to the killing of youths by gunmen suspected to be militias.

On January 22, PUNCH Online reported that gunmen attacked a mining site in the Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area, killing seven people.

Similarly, on December 17,news report a tragic incident in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where 12 people were killed at night by suspected militia. The incident reportedly occurred at a mining site in the Ratoso fan community of the council area.

Local authorities attribute these attacks to gunmen believed to be militias, amid long-standing ethnic and resource-based tensions in the region that have claimed numerous lives on both sides.

Amalau announced the measures in a statement personally signed on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

He also imposed a daily curfew on the Tenti and Mandar districts of the LGA, until further notice.

According to the statement, the actions are necessary to ensure peace, safety, and the protection of lives and property within the council.

“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,” the chairman said.

He explained that the measure was necessary to curb activities that could worsen the fragile security situation in the affected areas.

“Furthermore, to enhance security surveillance and enable security agencies to effectively discharge their duties, a daily curfew is hereby imposed from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in Tenti and Mandar districts, as well as along the surrounding terrain within Bokkos Local Government Council,” Amalau added.

The chairman urged residents—particularly miners, business operators, and visitors—to strictly comply with the directive, warning that violators of the suspension order or curfew would be dealt with in accordance with extant laws.

“I appeal to the good people of Bokkos Local Government Area to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies as collective efforts are intensified to restore lasting peace and normalcy. This directive takes immediate effect and shall remain in force until further notice,” he said.

Culled from punch