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By Lawrence Agbo
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has said both residents and security personnel were caught off guard during the recent deadly attack in Jos, describing the incident as unexpected after months of relative peace.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the governor explained that the community had enjoyed stability for nearly a year, making the assault difficult to anticipate.
“As a matter of fact, the community was blindsided. The security personnel were also caught off guard because of the relative peace we have enjoyed, particularly in the last 10 months to one year. So nobody envisaged this kind of thing, and people came out in their numbers as they usually do to relax on a Sunday evening,” he said.
Mutfwang revealed that the attackers appeared to have studied the behaviour of residents before striking, disguising themselves as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
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According to him, many residents initially mistook the assailants for security operatives and did not resist, allowing the attackers to inflict significant damage before fleeing.
“Obviously, the attackers had studied the psychology of the people, who are used to seeing operatives of the NDLEA who come to raid neighbouring communities in search of drug addicts and what have you. So they came in that manner, hooded, and were shooting in the same way NDLEA officers operate.
“People initially assumed it was an NDLEA operation and did not resist, but when they realised what was happening, a lot of damage had already been done. By the time they began to respond, the attackers had already escaped,” he added.
The attack, which occurred on March 29, left at least 28 people dead, including students and staff of the University of Jos, and triggered fresh concerns over security in the state.
Despite the incident, the governor expressed optimism that it would not recur, assuring residents that steps are being taken to strengthen security and prevent further violence.
