At least one person was confirmed dead while six others sustained bullet wounds during a clash between police and illegal miners in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, also led to the disappearance of a policeman, who has yet to be found.

According to the Acting Chairman of Sarduana LGA, Godswill Sol, men of the Police Task Force arrived at Mayo Sine last Saturday on the directives of the state governor to flush out illegal miners in the area, but were resisted.

He said the police reinforced and stormed the mining site again on Thursday, where a clash eventually ensued between both parties.

Sol said, “Information available to me indicates that one person was killed, a police officer is missing, while six persons sustained injuries during the clash and are receiving treatment in a hospital.

“I have been told that about 50 to 100 makeshift tents of the illegal miners were burnt by the police during the raid. We thank God that the situation did not escalate and the area is now calm.”

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Dave Akinremi, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Jalingo, the capital, said he deployed officers to the area on the instructions of the state government, following reports of illegal mining activities in the area.