At least 10 people have been killed and several others injured after gunmen launched a coordinated attack on a residential community in Jos, authorities and witnesses said Monday, in the latest outbreak of violence to hit Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt.
The attack occurred Sunday evening in Angwan Rukuba, a densely populated neighborhood in Jos North Local Government Area, sending residents fleeing as heavily armed assailants opened fire indiscriminately.
Eyewitnesses told local media that the attackers, reportedly more than 20 in number, arrived on motorcycles and were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), raising concerns about the use of deception to gain access and lower suspicion.
“They came like officials. Nobody suspected anything,” one resident said. “Then suddenly, they started shooting. People were running in all directions.”
The gunmen were said to have moved through parts of the community, including Gari Yawaye, firing sporadically and leaving multiple casualties in their wake. Some witnesses reported that the attackers briefly interacted with locals before opening fire, underscoring the suddenness of the attack. Video of the aftermath of the attacks
Local accounts indicate that security forces arrived after the attackers had fled, though authorities have not confirmed the exact timeline of their response.
In the aftermath, the government of Plateau State imposed a 48-hour curfew across Jos North in an effort to prevent further unrest. Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang condemned the killings, describing the нападение as “barbaric” and vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“We are taking all necessary measures to apprehend the perpetrators,” the governor said in a statement, urging residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
The violence has also disrupted academic activities, with the University of Jos announcing the postponement of examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, citing safety concerns for students and staff. Many students reside in and around the affected areas.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and there has been no official confirmation of the perpetrators’ identity. However, conflicting accounts from residents highlight the complexity of the region’s security challenges, where insurgent activity, banditry, and longstanding communal tensions often intersect.
Jos and the surrounding areas in Plateau State have experienced repeated attacks over the years, frequently linked to disputes over land, ethnicity, and religion. Sunday’s attack also comes nearly a year after a deadly Palm Sunday incident in the state that left dozens of dead.
For many residents, the latest killings are a stark reminder of the persistent insecurity in the region and the growing fear that such attacks can strike without warning, even in the heart of urban communities.
As investigations continue and security is tightened, families are left mourning, and a city once again confronts the aftermath of sudden, devastating violence.
