Jos Attack: Governor Mutfwang vows justice as residents cite repeated promises

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has pledged that those responsible for Sunday’s deadly attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area will be brought to justice, following his visit to the area on Wednesday.

The governor, in a post on X, described the attack as “heinous” and said he met with grieving families during the visit, assuring them that the state government would not allow the killings to go unpunished.

“I assure you that those responsible for this evil act will not go unpunished. My administration will pursue justice relentlessly until the perpetrators are brought to book,” Mr Mutfwang said.

The governor also announced that the state would cover medical bills for those injured and provide what he described as befitting burials for victims of the attack.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times

Add as a preferred source on Google

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that gunmen stormed Angwan Rukuba on Sunday evening, posing as customers at a beer parlour before opening fire on the customers.

Witnesses said the attackers shot indiscriminately before fleeing through bush paths leading toward nearby hills, leaving behind multiple casualties and triggering reprisals in the area.

The violence prompted the state government to impose a 48-hour curfew on Jos North, while the University of Jos postponed examinations, and some schools within the affected community shut down over security concerns.

However, there are conflicting accounts of the number of casualties. While the police said 12 people were killed, residents who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES insisted the toll is significantly higher.

“From what we saw and counted, it is more than 30,” one resident said, citing video footage showing multiple bodies at the scene.

The discrepancy has added to frustration among locals, many of whom say official figures often understate the scale of attacks in the area.

Some residents also expressed scepticism over the governor’s assurances, noting that similar promises have followed previous attacks without visible outcomes.

“This is not the first time leaders are coming here to promise justice,” another resident said. “We have heard this many times after past killings, but the attackers are rarely caught.”

In recent months, Plateau communities have witnessed repeated violence, including attacks in Riyom, Kanam and other parts of the state, where dozens of residents and security operatives have been killed.

In several instances, officials visited affected areas, condemned the killings and pledged accountability.

Despite these assurances, many communities say arrests and prosecutions have been limited, raising concerns about deterrence and the persistence of the attacks.

Mr Mutfwang, in his remarks, called for collaboration among traditional rulers, religious leaders and residents, describing security as a shared responsibility and urging unity in addressing the crisis.

The latest attack, and the reactions that followed, underline the widening gap between official assurances and community expectations, as residents continue to demand concrete action to end the cycle of violence.