Survivors of the deadly attack on Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have revealed that the assailants arrived on motorcycles wearing military-style attire before unleashing violence that left at least 27 people dead. A youth leader, Samson Chiroma, who spoke during the visit of Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the affected community, said the attackers opened sporadic fire on residents, causing chaos and panic in the densely populated area.

Another resident, Jerry Akims, said the gunmen moved from house to house, killing unsuspecting victims. He noted that many initially mistook the gunshots for routine operations by security or drug enforcement agents, but quickly realised the situation was different as the attackers operated for several minutes before fleeing. The assault, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, has been described by locals as one of the most brutal incidents in recent times.

Reacting to the killings, Governor Mutfwang condemned the attack as “cowardly and senseless” and called for a shift from conventional peacekeeping to intelligence-driven security operations. He made the remarks while receiving the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Umar Shehu Nadada, who visited on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. The governor disclosed that victims are receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, with many reported to be in stable condition.

Mutfwang warned that the state may be facing a new wave of “urban terrorism” and urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, track down perpetrators, and bring their sponsors to justice. He also revealed that a suspect linked to the spread of inciting information has been arrested, while commending residents for their restraint in the aftermath of the violence.

On his part, DIG Nadada said additional security personnel, including operatives of the Police Mobile Force and intelligence units, had been deployed to restore calm and prevent further attacks. He added that security agencies would engage community leaders and stakeholders while carrying out a full assessment of the situation to forestall a recurrence.