- Residents protested Palm Sunday attack despite 48-hour curfew in Jos North.
- Gunmen in military uniforms opened fire, leaving multiple injuries reported.
- Governor Mutfwang condemned attack, security agencies mobilized to respond.
Hundreds of residents in Plateau State defied a state-imposed curfew on Monday morning, taking to the streets to protest the deadly Palm Sunday attack in Jos North Local Government Area. The demonstration occurred at Anguwan Rukuba, the community where the assault took place on Sunday evening.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that videos circulating on social media showed protesters chanting and demanding urgent government action to end the recurring violence in the area. Many expressed frustration over what they described as repeated government failures to prevent attacks.
“People are outside because of the attack that happened yesterday. They chased the security men because they are not doing any help right here,” one resident said. He added that the attackers struck during a power outage, forcing people to flee for their lives. “Yesterday around 7 pm to 8 pm, there was no light, so these people firing — as in straight shooting on rapid — a lot of people had to flee for their lives.”
Eyewitnesses said the protest was later disrupted when operatives of the Nigeria Police Force moved in to disperse the crowd, preparing to fire tear gas. “People are now running because the police want to shoot at us. They want to fire teargas,” one eyewitness said.
The demonstration followed Sunday’s attack, when suspected gunmen dressed in military uniforms stormed Anguwan Rukuba and opened fire on residents around 8 pm. Witnesses said the gunmen targeted a busy market area, leaving several people injured. “Gunmen came around 8 pm to Anguwan Rukuba and shot randomly at people. It’s a market setting. People who saw them said they came in soldier khaki. They left many injured,” said resident Nyam Isaac.
The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the recurring killings in Plateau State. A user identified as Kaptain Kush wrote, “Jos is under curfew tonight. Palm Sunday. Gunmen on motorcycles shot through a student community and killed at least 10 people. Over 40 dead in Plateau since Thursday.” Another user, Oyindamola, questioned the government’s response, asking, “What happened in Jos yesterday is really sad… Why is the government allowing this to happen to its citizens? What kind of government is this?”
In response, the Plateau State Government imposed a 48-hour curfew across Jos North Local Government Area. Commissioner for Information and Communication Joyce Lohya Ramnap confirmed the directive in a statement, noting that the curfew followed the “tragic security incident that occurred at Gari Ya Waye community, Anguwan Rukuba today, Sunday, resulting in the loss of lives.”
Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack as barbaric and unprovoked, assuring residents that security agencies had been mobilized to apprehend those responsible.
