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The Plateau State Government has imposed a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area following a deadly attack that left several residents dead and others injured in the Angwan Rukuba axis.
The restriction, which took effect from midnight on March 29, is expected to remain in place until April 1, as authorities move to contain rising tensions and restore order in the area.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, described the incident as a “tragic security breach” that necessitated urgent intervention.
According to the government, the curfew was introduced in collaboration with security agencies to prevent further breakdown of law and order after the violence at Gari Ya Waye community in Angwan Rukuba.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked,” while assuring residents that efforts were underway to track down and prosecute those responsible.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately on residents, targeting passersby and traders along the roadside.
A resident, John Caleb, said the community was caught off guard by the assault.
“We have been badly hit. So far, six people have been confirmed dead, and several others are receiving treatment at Luna Hospital. It’s very unfortunate,” he said.
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Another resident, Janet Pam, recounted the confusion that followed the sound of gunfire.
“At first, I thought it was nothing unusual, but when the shooting continued, I stepped outside and saw gunmen on motorcycles firing at people,” she said. “They shot people returning from church and those by the roadside. I have never witnessed anything like this. It is terrifying.”
The attackers reportedly fled before security operatives arrived, leaving behind panic and destruction. In the aftermath, some youths staged protests by blocking roads, but were later dispersed by security personnel.
The latest violence adds to a growing pattern of insecurity in Plateau State, where communities have faced repeated attacks in recent months.
Only weeks ago, gunmen reportedly killed at least 20 security operatives and vigilantes in an ambush in Kanam Local Government Area, while earlier coordinated attacks in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi claimed over 100 lives and displaced thousands.
The state has also struggled with cycles of violence stretching back years, including the Christmas Eve attacks in 2023 that left more than 140 villagers dead.
Residents have continued to call for stronger security presence and stricter enforcement of existing measures, including the ban on commercial motorcycles, which they believe are often used by attackers.
With the curfew now in force, authorities say the priority is to stabilise the situation and prevent any further escalation in Jos North.
