Tricycle Rider Killed Amid Violent Clash Between Rival Mining Gangs in Minna, Sparks Protests

A clash between two rival illegal mining groups, Anguwan Kampani and Galaxy, in Minna took a tragic turn on Friday, leading to the death of a tricycle rider allegedly shot by police attempting to control the escalating violence. The incident ignited a protest by tricycle riders, who blocked a major highway near the state secretariat, disrupting traffic from Chanchaga to Minna in a demand for justice.

Tensions reportedly began days earlier at an illegal mining site in Wushishi Housing Estate, where a dispute over mining rights erupted into a violent confrontation, leaving two people dead. When police received reports of the ongoing violence, they swiftly deployed officers to the area to make arrests and restore order. However, their intervention allegedly resulted in further casualties.

Eyewitnesses claim that as police arrived, the warring miners fled the scene, joined by a tricycle rider who, in fear, abandoned his vehicle and attempted to run. According to a local resident, Ladan Bashir, police mistook the tricycle rider for one of the fleeing suspects and fatally shot him. The deceased’s body was later transported to the gathering of tricycle riders who, angered by the incident, staged a demonstration calling for accountability.

A protester named Musa expressed the group’s frustration, stating, “We believe the police action was excessive and unjustified, leading to the death of an innocent man. We demand a full investigation and accountability for those responsible.”

While the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that police were dispatched to contain armed youths in Anguwan Kampani, he did not verify the tricycle rider’s death. Abiodun noted that the situation was brought under control with reinforcements but emphasized that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the fatality.

The incident has left Minna residents in a state of heightened tension, with concerns over both the unrest among illegal mining factions and the police response that culminated in an alleged civilian death.