TERROR ATTACKS: No ease yet for Plateau residents at Easter

ISAAC SHOBAYO reports the mood in Jos, Plateau State, where incessant terror attacks have stripped residents of the joyful toga needed to enjoy and celebrate the spiritual essence of Easter.

PALM Sunday marked the start of the Easter celebrations that many residents of Jos, the capital of Plateau State, were anticipating. Many Christians had marched across the city bearing palm branches in remembrance of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem before terrorists struck in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

Residents of the area and the entire Jos metropolis were thrown off balance and unable to comprehend what had happened, so they began running in various directions for safety. Shops and other businesses were hurriedly closed, while some owners abandoned their stores open in their bid to escape. The staccato of gunfire filled the air as the attackers continued their rampage for about 40 minutes unabated. It was like a city without brave men to repel the attack. The assailants wreaked havoc and plunged the city into chaos before fleeing as the sound of gunshots subsided. People trooped out in large numbers in search of their loved ones; others participated in rescue efforts, transporting the dead and injured to hospitals. At the last count, 29 persons had died.

In the aftermath of the attack, both the government and security agencies struggled to prevent the situation from snowballing into a full-scale crisis. While the state government imposed a curfew in the affected local government area, the president ordered the deployment of additional troops to restore order.

Prior to the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, some local government areas in the state had been under terrorist siege and were constantly at risk of attack. Some communities have been overrun and taken over by terrorists. Residents in these areas have been living in a state of uncertainty, many going to bed with the fear that they might not see the next day due to the possibility of midnight attacks.

However, given the relative calm that had prevailed for some time, many people were taken aback by the terrorist attack in Jos. The incident has reopened healing wounds, deepening existing divisions. The barriers that had previously been broken down now appear to have been re-established. People are wary of entering areas inhabited by those of different faiths because of what transpired on Palm Sunday and the confrontations that followed the next day, during which hoodlums harassed residents based on their ethnicity and religion in various parts of the city.

The regrettable incident has undone the calm that had been established over the years; it feels like a return to a painful and turbulent past. From all indications, the tranquillity of Jos has been compromised, and uncertainty pervades the atmosphere. Tribal and religious divisions now limit movement within the city. The much-anticipated Easter celebration has been ruined.

Despite the recent attack, festive periods such as Sallah, Christmas, and New Year in the state have often been marked by fear. To forestall a breakdown of law and order, movement is usually restricted during these periods, as hoodlums exploit such occasions to unleash violence. This explains why security agencies often ban the use of motorcycles and tricycles during festive periods.

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Recall that on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in December 2023, terrorists attacked over twenty communities in Bokkos Local Government Area, killing about 150 people in their sleep as they prepared for Christmas celebrations. About 20,000 residents were displaced. Similarly, between December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, terrorists attacked Bum village in Jos South Local Government Area, killing at least seven people.

In 2010, multiple bomb blasts killed no fewer than 38 persons and injured about 78 others on Christmas Eve in Jos. In most cases, such incidents have triggered sectarian crises.

Speaking on this development and the high level of uncertainty among residents, the National President of the Berom Youth Moulder (BYM), Barrister Dalyop Solomon, said it has been a long time since anyone enjoyed peaceful Christmas or New Year celebrations in the state due to persistent fear of attacks by armed bandits and terrorists.

“We have been living a life of uncertainty in Plateau State because there is no guarantee that one will not be attacked, especially those living in rural areas. Armed bandits and terrorist elements have infiltrated the state. Information at our disposal indicates an influx of bandits into areas such as Mahanga, Fass, and around Vange. So we do not know what will happen this holiday season.

“We appreciate the president for deploying more troops to the state and the promise of 50,000 CCTV cameras, but it must go beyond this. Those responsible for these dastardly acts must not be allowed to go scot-free, because this is partly why the state and the entire country continue to experience cycles of violence.

“Easter has already been ruined because the people of Angwan Rukuba, where 29 persons were killed, will certainly not celebrate, just as the people of Jol will not. It is unfortunate that there appears to be no political will on the part of those in government to stop this, which amounts to tacit encouragement. It is deeply troubling that bandits now determine whether one lives or dies.”

The General Secretary of the Plateau State Indigenous Development Association (PIDAN), Danjuma Auta, said it has become a pattern for attacks to occur during festive periods. He noted that prior to the Palm Sunday incident, there were threats on social media indicating that an attack would occur, which eventually happened.

According to him, it is both wrong and irresponsible for some community leaders to harbour miscreants and terrorists without taking steps to expel them. He added that those issuing threats and carrying out attacks belong to identifiable communities, and their leaders are aware of them.

“It is not only about deploying troops; what about the perpetrators and sponsors of these ignoble acts? What about the communities harbouring them? There are communities in Plateau State known to be terrorist enclaves, yet despite repeated outcries, neither the government nor security agencies have taken decisive action. The political will must be there to address this ugly development,” he said.

A security expert, Dr. Aliyu Danbaba, noted that Plateau State and other parts of the country will continue to experience cycles of violence if authorities continue to treat the issue with levity. He explained that several reports from commissions of inquiry remain unimplemented, particularly those addressing insecurity in Plateau State.

Danbaba emphasized that the failure to implement these reports contributes significantly to the persistence of the crisis, noting that the same actors have been responsible for the violence over the years.

“It is not too late to implement these reports. The Plateau State government should be bold enough to revisit and enforce them,” he said.

Also reacting to the insecurity, the Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), in a statement signed by its Secretary, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, called on security agencies to immediately launch a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into the Palm Sunday attack with a view to identifying and prosecuting those responsible.

“It is imperative that security agencies leave no stone unturned in uncovering the circumstances surrounding this attack. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done in order to restore public confidence and prevent future occurrences.”

The group further urged the government, community leaders, and religious stakeholders to intensify efforts toward peacebuilding, dialogue, and reconciliation across affected communities.

Based on the prevailing situation, this year’s Easter celebration is at a low ebb, with fear and uncertainty dominating public life, as residents remain cautious about their movement.