By YUSUFU IDEGU, Jos

Unknown gunmen have opened fire on mining workers in Kuru village, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing eight of them in the process.

Some of the miners who were lucky to escape death during the attack sustained injuries from gunshots.

They were workers of Cabitex company.

The attack, according to one of the survivors, took place at about 7pm Friday evening when the miners were departing the mining site after the toil of the day.

The special security task force in Jos code named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) was not available to confirm the attack but Mr. Chapo Daniel, Esq., who is the Secretary General of Kuru Development Association, said that those killed were members of the community who were just hustling for their daily bread at the mining site.

He gave the names of the victims as Mrs. Talatu Sunday, Mrs. Jumai Useini, Mr. Davou Dalyop Pwol, Mr. Gyang Joseph Nyam. Mr. Gabriel Nuhu. Mrs Nvou Dung. Mrs Dung Monday and Mrs. Shabang

“This is a heavy loss to families and entire community, these are innocent people working for a mining company, what was their offence, why should they be killed in this gruesome manner,” Daniel said.

He called on Government to expedite action and get the assailants arrested as tension is high in the community over the killing.

National Coordinator of Emancipation Center for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCVN) Dalyop Solomon Esq., who also confirmed the attack, said that the State Government needs to fast track its process of banning open grazing in protection of its citizens from unknown gunmen roaming the bush.

Solomon alleged that the attack is similar to the type carried out by armed herdsmen regularly in the state.