Jos, Plateau State — Panic and grief have gripped residents of Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area following a deadly Sunday night attack in which gunmen killed at least 27 people and left several others injured.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who arrived on motorcycles and dressed in military-style attire, stormed the densely populated area around 7:30 p.m., opening sporadic gunfire on unsuspecting residents.
A youth leader in the community, Comrade Samson Chiroma, who spoke during Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s visit to the scene, recounted the horror, noting that the attackers’ appearance initially created confusion.
“Our attackers came on bikes in military-style attire,” Chiroma said.
Another resident, Mr Jerry Akims, told journalists that the gunmen moved from house to house, killing innocent citizens in a coordinated assault.
He explained that many residents initially mistook the gunfire for a routine operation by law enforcement agents combating drug-related activities in the area.
“But the shooting didn’t sound normal; the attackers operated for several minutes before vanishing,” Akims added.
The incident has left the community in shock, with survivors recounting scenes of chaos as families fled for safety.
Victims of the attack are currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where hospital sources say many of the injured are in stable condition.
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Governor Orders Shift in Security Strategy
Reacting to the attack, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the killings as “cowardly and utterly senseless,” expressing deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.
He said the incident signals a disturbing shift in the nature of violence in the state, warning of what he termed an emerging phase of urban terrorism.
“It is deeply heartbreaking that a city we have long regarded as one of the most peaceful in the region has witnessed such horror,” the governor said.
Mutfwang called on security agencies to abandon routine peacekeeping approaches and adopt proactive, intelligence-led operations to tackle the growing threat.
“We are now confronted with an emerging phase of urban terrorism, and this demands a fundamental rethink of our security architecture,” he stated.
The governor disclosed that some progress had been made, including the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in spreading inciting information capable of triggering unrest.
He urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and ensure that those responsible for the attack, including their sponsors, are apprehended and prosecuted.
Mutfwang also commended residents, particularly the youth, for exercising restraint in the aftermath of the violence, while stressing the need for stronger collaboration between communities and security forces.
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“The time for hesitation is over. We must deploy every available resource to defend our people, protect lives and property,” he declared.
Police Deploy Reinforcements
Meanwhile, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Umar Shehu Nadada, visited Plateau State on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Olawale Disu, for a fact-finding and operational assessment.
Nadada confirmed that additional personnel, including units of the Police Mobile Force and intelligence operatives, had been deployed to the area.
“We are here to assess the situation firsthand and implement effective strategies to neutralise these criminal elements,” he said.
He added that security agencies are working collaboratively and will engage community leaders and stakeholders as part of efforts to prevent further attacks.
Growing Concerns
The attack has heightened concerns over the increasing sophistication of armed groups, particularly their use of military-style disguises, which can delay response and create confusion among residents.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to restore calm and ensure that such incidents do not recur, even as residents continue to mourn the victims of one of the deadliest recent attacks in Jos.
