Photo Credit| Paul Mawien Pogba

Citing preliminary and unverified assessments, the Vice President indicated that as many as 73 people may have lost their lives, with another 25 sustained serious injuries in the area near Jebel Iraq.

In a statement released today, Vice President Igga condemned the massacre as a “cowardly and senseless act of violence” targeting hardworking citizens—the backbone of the local economy—who were simply seeking to support their families.

He described the attack as a grave violation of the right to life and a direct threat to peace and stability in the country.

The Vice President outlined immediate actions to respond to the tragedy, including providing urgent medical care and evacuation for the injured survivors and launching a formal inquiry to identify and hold accountable the perpetrators.

He also called for reinforced protection of mining sites and rural trade hubs to prevent future attacks.

Addressing the families of the victims, Vice President Igga said, “Your grief is the nation’s grief. We stand with you in this dark hour and pledge that the blood of your loved ones will not be shed in vain.”

He urged citizens to remain calm but vigilant and to cooperate with security forces by sharing any information that may help bring the attackers to justice.

The investigation is ongoing, and the government has yet to publicly identify those responsible for the attack.