A pregnant woman has been shot during a violent confrontation between illegal mining operators and local residents in Mutun Daya community, Shiroro local government area of Niger State.
It was gathered the dispute started on Monday when a prominent politician and artisanal miner attempted to convert the community’s primary school into a mining site, despite resistance from the residents..
This development was said to have sparked fierce opposition from the members of Mutum Daya community.
The situation, DAILY POST learnt, escalated when local security guards employed by the miners shot an unidentified pregnant woman in the leg as she tried to pass through the contested area.
The incident, sources from the area said, ignited a fierce battle between the community’s youths and the security guards, but prompt deployment of security agents prevented further violence.
The state Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack in a statement.
The statement disclosed that on 29th September 2025, at about 10: 00 am, some groups of persons were sighted engaging in illegal mining in a school in Mutun-Daya, along Gwada road, and the community members resisted the activities.
“During this, a yet-to-be-identified vigilante man reportedly shot a woman on the leg. As a result of this, aggrieved youths in the area blocked Gwada- Sarkin-Pawa road, while DPO Gwada mobilised to the scene and the youths were persuaded to unblock the road,” the statement added.
The police spokesman explained that the situation was brought under control, and the injured victim was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, efforts to identify and arrest the vigilante man is in progress.
Pregnant woman shot by vigilante as illegal miners, residents clash in Niger