A deadly confrontation in the Kuyello area of Kaduna State has left seven people de@d, following a violent clash between a repentant bandit and illegal gold miners on Thursday.
The incident, which spiraled into a brutal reprisal attack, has heightened tensions in a region already plagued by banditry and unregulated mining activities.
According to security sources, the conflict began when a former bandit, identified only as Shu’aibu, allegedly stormed an illegal mining site in Kuyello, wielding an AK-47 rifle to seize gold from the miners.
His actions provoked a fierce response from the miners, who mobilized, overpowered Shu’aibu, and inflicted fatal injuries on him.
In retaliation, Shu’aibu’s associates launched a swift counterattack on the mining site, killing seven miners and injuring several others in a hail of violence.
Troops from Operation FANSAN YANMA, a military task force combating insecurity in the northwest, were deployed to the scene to restore order.
They evacuated the victims to the General Hospital in Shika, where medical personnel confirmed the deaths of seven miners.
The deceased were moved to the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations, while the injured are receiving treatment.
“The situation was volatile, but our troops acted swiftly to contain it,” a military source said, declining to provide further details as investigations continue.
The clash shows the volatile intersection of banditry and illegal mining in Kaduna, where gold deposits have fueled both economic desperation and criminal activity.
Shu’aibu, described as a “repentant” bandit who had previously surrendered under a government amnesty program, reportedly reverted to criminal tactics, highlighting the challenges of reintegrating former insurgents.
Local residents expressed outrage, with many blaming lax oversight for the proliferation of illegal mining sites.
“These places are death traps, bandits and miners fighting over gold while we live in fear,” said Ibrahim Sani, a Kuyello farmer.
Kaduna State authorities is yet to issue an official statement, but the incident adds to a grim tally of violence in the region, where banditry, kidnapping, and resource conflicts have claimed hundreds of lives in 2025 alone.
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