Three Women Killed in Gunmen Attack at Nigeria Plateau Mining Site

Multiple deadly crimes were reported across several countries on Monday, including the killing of three women at a mining site in Nigeria's Plateau State, the murder of a 12th woman in South Africa's Ekurhuleni prompting activist demands for action, the deaths of 37 mining suspects in a Nigerian detention facility, the arrest of a man in Japan for murdering his ex-wife's mother, and a large methamphetamine seizure in Indonesia.

Nigeria Mining Site Attack

Gunmen attacked a mining site in Rakum community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, killing three women and injuring one other person before fleeing. [1] The attackers reportedly stormed the mining site at about 4:30 p.m. and opened fire on people working there before fleeing the area. [1] The incident occurred amid heightened security concerns in parts of Plateau, particularly Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos, where the state government recently imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew following a series of attacks. [1] The spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the latest attack to journalists in Jos. [1] Mr Tengwong said the attackers targeted the mining site, killing three women and injuring another person. [1] “This is another sad development that has further heightened concerns over the safety of people working and living in the area,” he said. [1] A member of the affected community, John Silas, also confirmed the attack, saying it occurred in the evening while miners were carrying out their activities. [1] “The attackers came to the mining site and opened fire on the people there. Three women were killed, and another person was injured,” Mr Silas said. [1] He appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent further attacks in the community. [1] The latest incident adds to a series of violent attacks reported in parts of Plateau in recent weeks, despite measures by the state government and security agencies to contain the violence. [1]

South Africa Femicide Protest

Activists marched to Kempton Park police station in South Africa demanding action after the murder of a 12th woman in Ekurhuleni since July, citing lack of policing in townships and informal settlements. [2] Members of shack dweller movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, Cry of the Xcluded and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) marched to the Kempton Park police station on Monday following the murder of a 12th woman in Ekurhuleni. [2] They were demanding urgent action to deal with femicide. [2] The group gave police a memorandum and demanded a public report of the status of investigations into the murders of a number of women since July. [2] They also want a well-funded and well-equipped women-led gender-based violence (GBV) task team and a 24-hour victim support room at Kempton Park police station. [2] SERI director Nomzamo Zondo said the lack of policing in townships and informal settlements as well as the conditions people live in contributed to the high prevalence of violence. [2] Zondo said they will hold to account government officials who have made promises of better lighting, services and policing in the wake of the murders. [2] Soweto resident Cibi Sonkosi said she joined the march because she fears for her life. [2] "I came to ask the police to intervene before these killings come to Soweto. I now lock myself in the house by 7pm every day and don't answer to any knocks because I can't trust anyone anymore," she said. [2] Tembisa resident Simon Mngwarwane-Dube said visible policing was limited despite previous promises of intensified action. [2] "If you have an incident at night, the police can even come tomorrow," he said. [2]

Deaths in Nigerian Custody

37 mining suspects died in a cramped, poorly ventilated NSCDC detention cell in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, after a sprayed substance caused severe reactions including foaming, biting, and banging on walls; survivors described officials refusing to help. [3] For 19-year-old Adamu Isah, 17 September began like any other day. [3] But it ended with him witnessing horrific deaths inside a cramped NSCDC detention cell in Minna, Niger State. [3] Mr Isah was among the suspects arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for alleged illegal mining activities around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto area of the state capital. [3] A few days after they were arrested, 37 of the suspects died under harrowing circumstances in the detention facility. [3] Nearly a week after the incident, Mr Isah carried bite marks on his arm left by a gasping cellmate in the last minutes of his life. [3] Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, the young man narrated his arrest, detention, the conditions inside the cell and the events preceding the tragic deaths. [3] The arrest According to Mr Isah, he and several others were arrested in the M.I. Wushishi area as they reported for work at the mining pits. [3] They were subsequently taken to a detention facility around the PDP Secretariat, in the Bloodson Hospital area of Minna. [3] “They took us to their cell located around the PDP Secretariat,” Mr Isah said. [3] He said about 20 detainees were initially in the facility, but some were later released on bail. [3] “After spending two days there, around 20 people were taken out for bail. That left about 17 of us remaining inside the cell.” [3] As more people, including women, were brought into the facility, the detainees were eventually reorganised into separate cells for men and women. [3] The cells were small, poorly ventilated and overcrowded. [3]

Japan Domestic Killing Arrest

Gunma Prefecture police in Japan arrested 30-year-old Riki Mihara for the murder of his ex-wife's 52-year-old mother and assault on her 26-year-old son, following prior domestic violence reports and threats. [4] Police in Gunma Prefecture have arrested a 30-year-old man wanted in connection with a case in which his former wife’s 52-year-old mother was murdered and the victim’s 26-year-old son was injured in the Gunma city of Ota on Friday. [4] Riki Mihara was arrested in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, on Sunday. [4] He admitted to attempting to kill the son of Yuka Tezuka, investigative sources said. [4] Gunma police believe Mihara was also involved in the murder of Tezuka. [4] According to the sources, Mihara’s former wife, the 28-year-old daughter of Tezuka, had consulted with police in Gunma and neighboring Tochigi Prefecture several times about Mihara’s alleged domestic violence. [4] On Sept. 19, the daughter reported to a Tochigi police station that Mihara had threatened to kill her mother and brother and then commit suicide. [4] Following the report, the police gave Mihara verbal instructions while advising the daughter to hide in a place he did not know. [4] However, when the daughter and son returned home on Friday, they encountered Mihara and found Tezuka bleeding and lying on the floor, and Mihara assaulted the son. [4] Tezuka was confirmed dead on the spot. [4] The daughter was unharmed. [4]

Indonesia Drug Seizure

Indonesian police and customs seized 46.6 kg of methamphetamine from a suspected courier linked to a Malaysia-based international smuggling network in Aceh; the suspect faces up to the death penalty. [5] Indonesian authorities seized 46.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and arrested a suspected courier in a recent joint operation, Langsa Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Hyrowo said. [5] The operation with local customs officers targeted an international drug-smuggling network operating from Malaysia. [5] The joint officers arrested the courier, identified by his initial M, he said. [5] Police launched an investigation after receiving intelligence on Sept. 18, coordinating with Langsa Customs to track the suspect, the police chief said here Monday. [5] The joint team arrested the 33-year-old suspect, a resident of Paningah Village, in Labuhan Keude Village, East Aceh District, he said. [5] Officers recovered 44 large packages of methamphetamine wrapped in light blue "Cai Yun Li" plastic containers, weighing 46.6 kilograms in total, Hyrowo said. [5] "Officers also seized two burlap sacks, a sarong, a mobile phone and a white Toyota Kijang Innova Reborn minibus with registration BK 1453 AGT," he said. [5] Police suspect M served as a courier for an international syndicate smuggling drugs from Malaysia for distribution across Aceh and other Indonesian provinces. [5] Investigators charged M under Indonesia's narcotics law, criminal code and statutory adjustment regulations, which impose severe penalties for drug trafficking, police said. [5] "The suspect faces the death penalty, life imprisonment, or a minimum prison sentence of six years up to a maximum of 20 years," Hyrowo said. [5]

Context and Official Reactions

The Plateau State Government on Thursday appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, saying it was working with security agencies to protect lives and property. [1] There was no immediate statement from the police or military on Monday’s attack. [1] Authorities are expected to clarify the circumstances of the attack and whether any arrests have been made. [1] In a statement, SAPS said its head office "has augmented the capacity of the Kempton Park police station through the deployment of additional members". [2] "Members of the public are encouraged to report criminal activities and suspicious conduct anonymously to Crime Stop on 08600 10111." [2] There is currently no publicly established forensic evidence that a chemical substance caused the deaths. [3] Authorities estimated the seizure prevented potential drug abuse among about 372,800 people, based on an average consumption rate of eight users per gram. [5] "This operation disrupts transnational drug-smuggling chains and supports ongoing efforts to combat narcotics and protect future generations," Hyrowo said. [5]

What to watch next: Authorities are expected to clarify the circumstances of the Plateau attack and whether any arrests have been made, while SAPS has augmented capacity at Kempton Park police station and encourages anonymous reports to Crime Stop.