Tears flowed freely in Jos on Monday as bodies of dozens of victims killed in the Sunday midnight attacks littered the grounds in the Angwan Rukuba area.

Amidst tension and anger, residents of Angwan Rukuba and neighbouring areas remain in mourning, urging authorities not only to bring those responsible to justice but also to take concrete steps to prevent further attacks.

Gunmen had invaded the sleepy Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba area, killing many people and wounding several others.

The gunmen, riding on motorcycles, had attacked the community at about 7.30 pm on Sunday, shooting sporadically. They were said to have escaped on their motorcycle after the mayhem.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State government has imposed a 48-hour curfew following the eruption of killings in the volatile Jos North Local Government.

A statement by the ‎Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said the curfew took effect from midnight on Sunday.

This is as Governor Caleb Mutfwang announced that the state government will not allow a mass burial for victims of Sunday’s terror attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government.

Unofficial sources said over 30 persons were killed in the attack, while many others were injured by the rampaging terrorists who invaded Angwan Rukuba area of Jos.

Police authorities, however, confirmed that 26 people were killed in the incident, although it remains unclear how many victims died in the initial attack and how many were killed during subsequent retaliatory violence.

In a statement issued Monday, Gyang Bere, Director of Press and Public Relations to the governor, said Mutfwang visited the Angwan Rukuba community and promised that each victim would receive a befitting burial.

“This is a painful moment for all of us. Angwan Rukuba is a community that accommodates people from diverse ethnic backgrounds across Plateau State,” Bere quoted the governor as saying.

“Therefore, this is not the pain of a few—it is the pain of all of us. We will not allow mass burial. The government will work closely with the families to give each victim a befitting burial. They did not deserve to die in such a manner.”

The governor described the incident as tragic and unacceptable, assuring that those responsible would be tracked down and brought to justice. He also pledged that the state government would take full responsibility for the medical treatment of all injured victims until full recovery.

Mutfwang appealed for calm, particularly among the youth, urging residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands. “The greatest honour we can give to the departed is to remain peaceful and allow due process to take its course,” he said.

Bere stated that one suspect linked to prior threats had already been arrested, with efforts ongoing to apprehend other perpetrators. The governor assured citizens that both state and federal authorities, including President Bola Tinubu, are fully engaged in ensuring justice is served.

“The governor directed that the bodies of the deceased be evacuated to the mortuary, while consultations continue with families and stakeholders towards ensuring justice and lasting peace in the area,” the statement read.

Mutfwang also visited victims receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), offering prayers for their speedy and full recovery.

During the visit, Samson Chiroma, a community leader, recounted that the assailants appeared in military-style attire and called on the government to act swiftly, ensure justice for the victims, and facilitate proper burial arrangements. He noted that the community remains in deep mourning.

An angry Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has asked the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, to take immediate action to secure the lives of innocent Nigerians or step aside.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement by her media office on Monday, called for urgent and decisive measures to address worsening insecurity, warning that continued failure by the nation’s security leadership is no longer acceptable.

In a direct message to the Defence Minister through her official social media handle, the lawmaker expressed disappointment over what she described as a disconnect between assurances made during his Senate screening and the current security situation.

Condemning the killings, she described the attack as “another brutal reminder that Nigerians remain unprotected.”

“Dear General Christopher Musa,” she said, “Angwan Rukuba is another brutal reminder that Nigerians remain unprotected. During your screening at the Senate chambers, your words were filled with promises, and I allowed myself a sigh of relief at last, I thought.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, insisted that the time for assurances had passed, demanding visible results and accountability from the Defence Ministry.

“Well, prove NOW you are different and secure lives, or step aside. Enough of condolences. Enough of excuses. Nigerians want action, protection, and results!” she declared.

The senator’s position reflects growing public frustration over recurring attacks in vulnerable communities and has added to mounting calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture. (The Sun)

Update news