Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
At least 13 people were killed on Sunday night, September 13, 2026, in separate attacks across Jos South, Mangu, and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State. The deadliest incident occurred at Dungus Junction in Jos South, where nine passengers travelling to Jos were shot dead after gunmen opened fire on their commercial bus. The attack happened at about 9:40 p.m., according to Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos on Monday.
Among those killed in the bus attack was a member of Operation Rainbow, the Plateau State security outfit. Tengwong described the loss as painful, saying the victims were simply travelling to Jos when the attackers struck. Some passengers sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals, where some later died while receiving treatment. Others remain in hospital. A resident of Dungus, Musa Dauda, confirmed that some of the injured passengers died after being taken to the hospital.
In a separate attack in Mangu Local Government Area, suspected terrorists stormed Vodni community in Pushit District during the night, killing two people. Four others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to a hospital in Mangu town for treatment. In Riyom Local Government Area, two people were killed at Tahoos in a separate attack that occurred around the same period. The attacks appear to have been coordinated, with gunmen striking multiple communities within a short window of time.
The Plateau State Government condemned the attacks in a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap. The government said it received reports of fresh attacks on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in parts of Mangu Local Government Area, resulting in loss of lives and injuries to citizens, as well as the tragic incident at Dungus Junction on Sunday, September 13. The government described the incidents as deeply disturbing, especially at a time when it has been working with security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, and other stakeholders to strengthen the state's peace and security architecture through dialogue, intelligence sharing, community engagement, and other proactive measures.
The government appealed to residents of affected communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist in preventing attacks and apprehending the perpetrators. It also urged citizens not to resort to reprisals, warning that retaliation would only deepen the cycle of violence. The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Ayo Faniyan, confirmed that attacks had occurred but said the command was still gathering information. He said the police would issue an official statement once comprehensive details of the incidents were obtained.
The attacks have renewed concerns over the security situation in Plateau State, which has witnessed a series of deadly incidents in recent weeks. On September 7, 2026, three herders and 50 cattle were killed in an attack in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. On September 10, troops rescued three passengers who sustained gunshot injuries during a kidnapping attempt along the Jos–Makarfi highway in Riyom Local Government Area. The Plateau State Government has repeatedly condemned the violence and called for calm, but the attacks have continued, leaving residents fearful and demanding stronger measures to protect lives and property.
For the families of the 13 people killed on Sunday night, the grief is compounded by the knowledge that their loved ones were simply going about their daily lives—travelling home, working on their farms, or sleeping in their homes—when they were cut down. The nine passengers on the bus to Jos were returning from their journeys, perhaps to reunite with their families. The two people killed in Mangu were going about their business in their community. The two killed in Riyom were similarly innocent victims of a violence that has become all too familiar in Plateau State.
The government's call for restraint and cooperation with security agencies is a necessary step, but for the victims' families, words alone will not bring back their loved ones. The attacks have once again highlighted the urgent need for a more effective security response in Plateau State, where communities have endured years of violence and displacement. As the state government and security agencies continue their investigations, the people of Dungus, Vodni, and Tahoos are left to mourn their dead, count their losses, and wonder when the next attack will come.
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