Residents of the Randagi community in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff to investigate recent violence at an artisanal gold mining site in the area.
This incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals, while ten others are currently hospitalised.
During a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, a community leader representing the Randagi Development Association, Muktar Shehu Shagari, alleged that security personnel, including soldiers, police officers, and members of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVIS), arrived at the mining site in a convoy and attempted to evacuate stockpiles of gold-bearing stones mined by local labourers.
He noted that traditional leaders, including the district head, made efforts to engage with the security team to understand the purpose of their operation, but these attempts were unsuccessful.
“We pleaded with them to explain what they came to do, but they insisted they had been authorised and would not listen to anybody.”
Shagari claimed that after residents protested the operation, security personnel dispersed the crowd with tear gas before live ammunition was allegedly fired.
According to him, three people were killed, while ten others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment in a medical facility.
The community representative, however, commended Governor Uba Sani for intervening after the incident and meeting with community leaders.
“We thank the Governor of Kaduna State for listening to our complaints and assuring us that the matter will be thoroughly investigated. His intervention has given the community hope that justice will prevail,” he said.
Shagari appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander of KADVIS and civil society organisations to ensure an impartial investigation into the incident.
“We need justice. Justice must be done for the people of Randagi. We are appealing to all relevant authorities to intervene and thoroughly investigate what happened,” he said.
Randagi hosts one of the artisanal gold mining sites in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where residents engage in the extraction and processing of gold-bearing stones.
The recent violence at the site has heightened tensions in the community and renewed calls for improved regulation of mining activities, greater transparency in security operations and accountability for those responsible for any wrongdoing.
As at the time of filing the report, there was no official reaction from the Police or State government.