A violent clash over a gold mining site has left one person dead and several properties destroyed in Garin Katta, a community in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The violence began on Saturday after a disagreement broke out among local miners at the site. Tensions quickly escalated, and by Sunday, the conflict turned deadly, sparking a reprisal attack by the relatives of the deceased.
Eyewitnesses said the situation spiralled out of control as angry youths took to the streets, setting shops and motorcycles ablaze. Several properties were vandalised in the chaos, leaving the community in fear and confusion.
Reacting to the crisis, the Chairman of Yauri Local Government Area, Abubakar Shuaibu, announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew to curb further violence. The curfew, which runs from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., is to remain in place until peace is fully restored.
Speaking to journalists, Shuaibu said security agencies, including the Police Area Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military, had been alerted and deployed to the area to maintain law and order.
“We have taken swift action to prevent further breakdown of peace. The security agencies are fully involved and on ground. We are also seeking military support to ensure stability in the area,” the chairman said.
He added that investigations were already ongoing to identify and arrest those responsible for the killing and the destruction of properties.
The Kebbi State Government has not yet released an official statement on the incident, but local authorities have appealed for calm and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies.
This latest incident highlights the growing tension around unregulated mining activities across parts of Nigeria. In recent years, gold mining—both legal and illegal—has become a source of conflict in several communities, especially in the North-West and North-Central regions.
Residents of Garin Katta are calling on the government to intervene, enforce mining regulations, and prevent further bloodshed.
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy was gradually returning to the area under tight security presence.
