Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
JOS, Nigeria — A devastating night‑time attack by armed assailants on Palm Sunday in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, has left scores dead, many injured, and sparked intense reactions across the country after Nollywood actor Zubby Michael publicly urged Christians to leave the city for safety. The violent assault, the largest in the region in recent months, has reignited deep concerns about communal security, government capacity, and the protection of civilians in volatile areas.
The attack began shortly before 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, when a group of heavily armed gunmen riding motorcycles and a minibus stormed the bustling Angwan Rukuba community, a mixed residential and commercial district where traders, students, and families were going about their evening routines. Eyewitnesses described a coordinated assault in which the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, targeting passersby, roadside traders, and others simply caught in the chaos. Vehicles and buildings were hit, and survivors described scenes of panic and anguish as residents fled in all directions. The attackers disappeared into nearby hills before security forces arrived, and military units reportedly responded after the gunmen had already withdrawn.
While official casualty figures vary, local authorities acknowledge a significant loss of life. Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang confirmed that at least 28 people were killed and many others injured in the attack. He described the violence as senseless and confirmed that security agencies had been ordered to arrest those responsible. The governor also announced a 48‑hour curfew for Jos North, beginning at midnight on March 29, intended to restore calm and support ongoing security operations. Medical care for the injured and burial arrangements for the deceased were to be supported by the state government.
Eyewitnesses gave harrowing accounts of the assault, saying the gunmen split into groups, firing from different directions and leaving devastation in their wake. Some witnesses recounted how the attackers fired into compounds and homes, shattering windows and creating widespread fear. A few initially mistook the gunmen for security personnel due to their apparent uniforms and arrival in official-style vehicles.
In response to the carnage, hundreds of residents defied the government-imposed curfew to demand urgent action from authorities. Demonstrators gathered near the scene, expressing anger over persistent insecurity and chanting for justice and protection. Many called for more proactive intelligence and security deployments rather than broad movement restrictions, which they argued would not deter such violence.
The nature and motive behind the attack remain officially unconfirmed. Federal and state authorities have yet to ascribe clear responsibility to any specific group, although similar incidents in the Middle Belt have previously involved a mix of extremist insurgents, armed criminal gangs, and ethnic militias. The region has long been plagued by clashes over land, grazing rights, resource access, and communal tensions, and Plateau State has experienced waves of violence in recent years.
The violence and its timing during a significant Christian observance prompted nationwide condemnation. President Bola Tinubu issued a public statement strongly denouncing the Jos attacks alongside another violent incident in Kaduna State, calling the perpetrators cowards and urging security agencies to intensify preventive action based on early-warning intelligence. He extended sympathy to families of victims and pledged federal support for affected states. Professional bodies and civil society groups also responded, condemning the killings and demanding decisive action to protect citizens, while urging youth restraint in the face of emotionally charged responses.
Amid official responses, the viral reaction of actor Zubby Michael became one of the most polarising elements of the unfolding story. Posting on social media, Michael bluntly advised Christians living in Plateau State to relocate, asserting that their safety could not be guaranteed if they remained in Jos. His statement quickly drew both support and widespread criticism. Supporters argued that the government’s inability to ensure basic security made relocation a practical consideration for families who fear repeated attacks, while critics condemned the statement as defeatist and dangerous, warning that advising people to abandon their homes could deepen social fractures and reward violence with forced displacement. Many highlighted the emotional, economic, and cultural costs of such relocations, noting that leaving ancestral homes is neither simple nor guaranteed to improve safety.
Other public figures leveraged the moment to call for broader reflection on national priorities, urging entertainers and public figures not to overlook the human toll of insecurity in favour of political interests. Several prominent artists criticised the overall security situation in Nigeria, calling for more sustained national attention.
The human cost of the March 29 attack is starkly felt in Jos and surrounding communities. Many families grieve loved ones lost in the assault, and residents describe lingering anxiety about future violence. Schools and examinations were disrupted as the curfew and fear of further attacks kept many indoors and halted routine activities. Community leaders appealed for calm but also for effective protection and justice. Local youth leaders expressed frustration, arguing that repeated warnings about security vulnerabilities were ignored and that more proactive measures could have prevented the tragedy. They called on authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, community policing, and rapid response efforts to restore confidence among residents.
Analysts emphasise that the Jos attack fits within a larger pattern of insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where economic pressures, climate change, land disputes, and ethnoreligious divides have fuelled cycles of violence for years. While some incidents are attributed to criminal gangs or armed militias, others involve extremist elements, making the security landscape complex and unpredictable. As Plateau State and the nation grapple with the aftermath of the attack, the debate sparked by a single social media post underscores broader anxieties about protection, identity, and the future of multi-faith communities in Nigeria. For many, the core questions now revolve around how the state can guarantee citizen security without undermining the cohesion and heritage of the communities it is sworn to protect.
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