Tension In Plateau Rises As Death Toll Hits 33

The Plateau State Government has urged residents to remain vigilant and prayerful, assuring the public of its commitment to restoring lasting peace in the region.

A solemn funeral service for victims of the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, became tense as new developments emerged and protesters gathered outside the church. Jeremiah Satmak, Chief of Staff at Government House Jos, representing the state government, commiserated with families of the victims and confirmed that the death toll from the attack has risen from 28 to 33 following the death of several victims in hospital.

“Government is working tirelessly to unravel the motive behind these killings and bring an end to the violence on the Plateau. This attack was meant to break our unity, but it will not succeed,” Satmak said. He also called on residents to stay vigilant and prayerful, reiterating that the government is committed to restoring lasting peace.

Satmak further announced that the three youths previously arrested in connection with the incident have been released.

Rev. Gomwalk Dunkan, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter, stressed that “There can be no peace without justice. Government must ensure that justice is served for lasting peace to return.” He expressed hope that the crisis will soon end and emphasized that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.

Outside the church auditorium, women and youths staged a protest demanding the release of the three youths initially detained by the military. Protesters claimed the youths were unjustly apprehended while the actual attackers remained at large. Carrying placards with various messages, they vowed to delay the burial until the youths were freed, heightening tensions and underscoring growing frustration over recurring attacks and delayed justice.

The deadly shooting in Angwan Rukuba occurred when unidentified gunmen, reportedly on a motorcycle, targeted youths in the Jos North Local Government Area. This attack comes just weeks after more than 20 security operatives and vigilantes were killed in an ambush by heavily armed bandits in Wanka and nearby communities in Garga, Kanam Local Government Area, reflecting a continuing pattern of insecurity in Plateau State.