…. Govt imposes 48‑hour curfew
There was tension in Anguwan Rukuba, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday following a deadly shooting incident with many reportedly killed.
It was learnt that the yet to be identified gunmen, reportedly riding on a motorcycle, shot sporadically and killed an unspecified number of youths in the area.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around the Anguwan Rukuba junction in the evening.
“The attackers just rode past and started shooting sporadically. People were running in different directions.”
In the aftermath of the attack, angry youths reportedly blocked major roads within the community, raising fears of escalating tension.
The Plateau State Government has imposed a 48‑hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area following the deadly attack that left several residents dead and many others injured in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the government condemned what it described as a “barbaric and unprovoked attack on innocent citizens.”
The curfew took effect from midnight on Sunday and will remain in force until April 1, 2026. Government officials say the measure is necessary to prevent further breakdown of law and order while security agencies work to track down the perpetrators.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang assured residents that security operatives have been deployed to restore calm and protect lives and property. Citizens were urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities by providing information that could aid ongoing investigations.
The attack also had immediate implications for academic activities at the University of Jos, which hosts a significant number of staff and students residing in the affected area. In a separate advisory, the institution announced the postponement of all examinations scheduled for Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31.
Deputy Registrar Emmanuel Madugu, speaking on behalf of the Registrar, advised members of the university community to exercise extreme caution, avoid early‑morning movements, and promptly report any suspicious activity to the University Security Division.
University management said it is working closely with security agencies to monitor developments and ensure the safety of students and staff. Further updates are expected as the situation evolves.
As of the time of filing this report, the Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, and the Police Public Relations Officer had yet to respond to calls seeking official confirmation and details of the incident.
The latest violence adds to ongoing concerns about security in parts of Plateau State, where communities have faced recurring attacks in recent years. For now, authorities are appealing for calm as investigations continue.
The latest attack comes weeks after no fewer than 20 security operatives and vigilantes were reportedly killed when heavily armed bandits ambushed a joint patrol team in Wanka and the surrounding communities of the Garga area in the Kanam Local Government Area of the state.
The Kanam Development Association (KADA), in a statement signed by its Secretary, ND Shehu Kanam, and Chairman, Garba G. Aliyu, said the victims included 12 security personnel, among them two senior military officers, and eight vigilante members who were assisting security forces to protect the communities.
According to the statement, the patrol team—made up of military personnel and local vigilantes—was travelling in two vehicles on routine security operations across the communities of Garga, Kyaram, and Gyambau when they were suddenly ambushed by hundreds of heavily armed bandits on their way to Wanka at about 2 p.m. on Friday.
KADA described the deaths of the security personnel and vigilantes as “deeply painful and unacceptable,” noting that the fallen operatives died while defending rural communities that have long faced repeated attacks.
The association added that after the ambush, the bandits reportedly stormed the Kyaram community, where they looted properties worth millions of naira and rustled a large number of cattle belonging to residents.
KADA warned that the incident was not isolated, stressing that communities around Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, and neighbouring settlements located along the borders of Plateau, Taraba, and Bauchi states have endured persistent attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling for the past three to four years.
Credit: Channels TV
