A violent clash at a mining site in Bukkuyum Local Government Area has left two miners dead and five others injured after a dispute linked to Ramadan observance spiraled out of control.
Security sources said the incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. on March 5 at a mining site in the Abare area, throwing the community into panic.
According to the sources, the crisis began when a member of an outlawed vigilance group locally known as Yan Sakai allegedly stormed the site and attempted to compel Muslim miners to observe the ongoing Ramadan fast.
The suspect, identified simply as Kaura, reportedly arrested several miners, accusing them of refusing to observe the fasting period. He was also alleged to have imposed compulsory levies on those detained.
However, the move sparked resistance from other miners who objected to what they described as unlawful arrests and extortion.
Sources said the suspect initially retreated from the site after facing opposition but later returned with other members of the group in an attempt to carry out further arrests.
The development triggered a confrontation between the miners and the vigilante group, leading to chaos across the mining site.
In the ensuing clash, two miners were killed while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Security operatives were quickly deployed to the scene following reports of the violence.
The injured victims were rushed to a medical facility for treatment, while authorities have launched an investigation to track down those responsible.
As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been made.
