Summary:
Tensions have escalated in Plateau State as the Berom Youth Moulders-Association issues a stern condemnation following the gruesome murder of seven young miners in Kuru District. The group is calling for immediate government intervention and a security overhaul to halt the pattern of violence targeting indigenous communities.
The fragile peace in Plateau State has been shattered once again following a harrowing incident in Kuru District, where seven young men were brutally murdered while working at a mining site. The attack, attributed to armed elements described as Fulani terrorist groups, has drawn a sharp and emotional rebuke from the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM).
The victims, who were reportedly engaged in legitimate mining activities to earn a living, have been identified as Dung Gyang (19), Weng Dung (26), Francis Paul (23), Samuel Peter (22), Dung Simon (28), Pam Dung (23), and the youngest among them, Francis Markus (15). Their deaths have plunged the community into mourning and sparked renewed fears regarding the safety of economic zones in the region.
A Violation of Sanctity
In a strongly worded statement, the BYM National President, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, described the assault as a calculated act of terror against peace-loving citizens. He emphasized that the targeting of youths striving for economic independence is an affront to the collective dignity of the Berom nation.
“This dastardly act constitutes a gross violation of the sanctity of human life and represents a direct assault on the peace, security, and collective dignity of the Berom people,” Mwantiri stated, lamenting the loss of a generation of potential leaders.
A Pattern of Violence
The association noted that this tragedy is not an isolated event but part of a disturbing trend of aggression. The group cited a recent ambush in Gyel District, which claimed two lives, as further evidence of the deteriorating security architecture. The BYM insists that the continued slaughter of innocent youths is unacceptable and must be met with the full weight of the law.
Call for Urgent Security Overhaul
Through a statement signed by Rwang Tengwong, the BYM National Publicity Secretary, the association has issued a clarion call to both the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government. They are demanding:
- An immediate and thorough investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.
- The reinforcement of security personnel around vulnerable communities and mining sites.
- The adoption of proactive, community-based security strategies to prevent future incursions.
As the community buries its dead, the BYM has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice and defending the lives of its people, warning that silence and inaction from the authorities could embolden the aggressors further.