Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Tension has gripped Gero community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State following the killing of two women by suspected gunmen, an incident that triggered protests by residents on Monday, July 20, 2026. The victims were reportedly found dead in the early hours of the day in Gero community, located behind the Jos South Local Government Secretariat, under circumstances that were still unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The gruesome discovery sparked outrage among women and youths in the community, who carried the bodies of the victims to the council secretariat in protest over the killings. The demonstrators later barricaded a section of the road leading to the secretariat, disrupting vehicular movement for several hours as they demanded justice for the slain women and improved security in the area. In the course of the protest, some aggrieved youths reportedly vandalised parts of the council secretariat, smashing window panes and causing damage to sections of the building before security operatives intervened.
A local government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the incident, said the protesters stormed the secretariat in large numbers, shouting and demanding answers over the killings. According to the official, the youths later brought the bodies of the victims to the secretariat on a motorcycle, insisting that government authorities respond to their grievances. He said some protesters made allegations linking security operatives to the incident but stressed that the claims remained unverified and could not be independently confirmed. The official further disclosed that he received reports that a police officer was allegedly attacked during the protest.
A resident of the community, Mrs Mary Chollom, condemned the killings, describing them as another painful reminder of the persistent insecurity confronting many communities in Plateau State. According to her, innocent women, children and farmers have continued to bear the brunt of violent attacks, leaving families devastated and entire communities living in fear. “We are tired of burying our loved ones. These women did nothing to deserve this. Government and security agencies must take decisive action to stop these senseless killings and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” she said. Chollom urged the federal government and the Plateau State government to strengthen security in vulnerable communities, insisting that residents should not be forced to live in constant fear. She also appealed to security agencies to intensify patrols, identify those behind the killings and ensure justice for the victims, stressing that only the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators would restore public confidence.
Following the protest, security personnel were deployed to the Jos South Local Government Secretariat and surrounding areas, while calm gradually returned to the community. Efforts to obtain official confirmation from security operatives were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
The killings in Gero community are the latest in a series of violent incidents in Plateau State, where insecurity has continued to escalate despite ongoing security operations. In June 2026, gunmen stormed a mining site in Gero Village, Gyel District of Jos South Local Government Area, killing at least five youths. The recurring attacks have left residents in fear and have prompted repeated calls for government intervention. As the community mourns the loss of the two women, the demand for justice and improved security remains urgent. The Plateau State Government and security agencies are under pressure to take decisive action to end the cycle of violence and restore public confidence in the region.
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