By Ayomide Otitoju
The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the killing of seven persons at a mining site in Kuru District, Jos South Local Government Area, describing the attack as a “brutality of senseless killings” and a stark reminder of the worsening security situation in the state.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday at an illegal mining site in Capitex, Kuru, when suspected armed bandits struck around 1:00 a.m., killing seven locals before fleeing, according to troops of Sector 6, Operation Safe Haven.
In a statement on Friday, PDP State Publicity Secretary Choji Dalyop accused the state government of failing to protect lives and guarantee security. “The senseless loss of life is a gloomy testament to the ongoing security crisis and the government’s lack of pro-activeness and apparent indifference to the safety and welfare of the people it was elected to serve,” the party said.
The opposition linked the Kuru killings to a long-standing security crisis in Plateau, noting that repeated violence continues to erode public confidence in governance and democracy. Citing the 1999 Constitution, the PDP argued that the protection of lives and property is a primary responsibility of government, warning that repeated attacks and inaction amount to a “severe dereliction of duty.”
The party referenced a 2025 fact-finding report by a committee set up by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, which revealed that attackers often came from neighbouring states and that violence had affected at least 420 communities, displacing thousands and claiming nearly 12,000 lives over time.
Describing the killings as “well coordinated, deliberate and devastating,” the PDP urged urgent action, issuing three key demands: a transparent investigation into the Kuru attack with public disclosure of findings; the swift prosecution of those responsible; and the development of a clear, actionable security plan to address the root causes of insecurity.
“The art of rhetoric and empty condemnations alone will not suffice,” the statement added. “The people demand action, justice and a government that prioritises human life over political power.”
The PDP expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and called on national and international stakeholders to monitor the security and human rights situation in Plateau State.
The Nigerian Army has said troops remain deployed in Kuru and surrounding areas, with intelligence-driven operations ongoing to track and apprehend the perpetrators.
