An overnight armed attack occurred in the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos city in central Nigeria's Plateau State. Gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in dozens of deaths and numerous injuries. Reuters and AFP news agencies, citing local youth agency representatives, reported that at least 30 people were killed.

Following the attack, the Plateau State government imposed a 48-hour curfew in the Jos North Local Government Area, which will remain in force until the end of Tuesday. The state government described it as a "tragic security incident" and urged citizens to remain calm, stay vigilant, and cooperate fully with security agencies. Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack as "barbaric and unprovoked," stating that investigations are ongoing and the perpetrators have not yet been identified.

In the aftermath, mob attacks seeking retaliation were also reported. The University of Jos canceled all examinations for two days. Governor Mutfwang, in an online statement, expressed condolences to the bereaved families, sharing in their loss and assuring that those responsible for this evil act will be punished.

Plateau State has long grappled with tensions between predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and mainly Christian farmers, though the extent to which religion drives the conflict—versus factors like competition for land and grazing access exacerbated by population growth and climate change—is disputed. Criminal gangs are also active. The attack highlights ongoing security challenges in northern Nigeria, where jihadist terror groups and armed criminals known as "bandits" frequently target villages and kidnap residents for ransom.

Recently, the US regime began deploying 200 troops to Nigeria to provide specialist training and technical support to soldiers fighting jihadist groups. However, these measures, along with years of efforts by Nigerian authorities and its military, have done little to calm the region. On the same day, AFP reported a mass shooting at a pre-wedding party in the northern state of Kaduna, killing at least 13 people, further underscoring the broader security crisis in the country.

Source: www.dw.com