A deadly attack on Anguwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, has resulted in multiple fatalities and sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests and a government-imposed curfew. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that 14 persons, including two women, were killed in the incident. Police Commissioner CP Bassey Ewah stated that 12 bodies (10 men and two women) were initially confirmed dead at the scene, with two additional bodies recovered during a subsequent search of surrounding bushes. The Command received a distress call reporting gunshots around the Anguwan Rukuba axis at approximately 8:30 pm on March 29. CP Ewah personally led a team of senior officers, tactical commanders, and personnel from other security agencies to the scene to de-escalate tension and restore order. Investigations are currently ongoing, with police actively trailing suspects and combing nearby bushes. Additional security deployments have been made to prevent further breakdown of law and order, and residents have been urged to provide any useful information.

However, the President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, provided a differing account, claiming that no fewer than 27 persons were feared killed in the attack, with 14 dying at the scene and 13 others later in the hospital. Mwantiri described the incident as another painful episode in the recurring security challenges affecting communities in the state, calling for immediate arrest and justice for the perpetrators. Eyewitnesses recounted that attackers, described as suspected terrorists, some reportedly dressed in military uniforms, stormed the community around 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm while residents were engaged in their activities. They opened fire indiscriminately in what was described as a busy market area, causing widespread panic and leaving many injured. Some houses were also reportedly set on fire by the assailants.

In response to the tragic incident, the Plateau State Government condemned the killings and promptly imposed a 48-hour curfew across Jos North Local Government Area, effective from midnight on March 29 until April 1, 2026. Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang strongly condemned the "barbaric and unprovoked attack on innocent citizens" and assured residents that security agencies had been mobilized to track down those responsible. Residents were advised to remain indoors, stay vigilant, and report any useful information to security agencies as investigations continued.

The day following the attack, Monday, March 30, saw hundreds of angry residents in Plateau State defying the state-imposed curfew. They took to the streets in protest at the scene of the massacre in Anguwan Rukuba, demanding urgent government action. Protesters, visibly agitated, chanted slogans, insisting that the curfew alone was insufficient to address the recurring violence and accusing authorities of failing to prevent repeated attacks. The demonstration was reportedly disrupted by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, who moved in to disperse the crowd, preparing to fire tear gas canisters.

The heightened tension also led the University of Jos (UNIJOS) to postpone all examinations scheduled for Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The institution's management issued a statement advising students and staff to remain indoors and vigilant, particularly given that Anguwan Rukuba accommodates many staff members and students. The Vice-Chancellor approved the postponement to ensure the safety of the university community, urging members to avoid coming out very early in the morning and to report any signs of security breaches to the University Security Division. The management affirmed it was closely liaising with relevant security agencies and monitoring the situation.

The attack garnered international attention and calls for intervention. American Christian missionary Alex Barbir accused President Tinubu of inaction regarding the insecurity, stating that he could no longer deny what Barbir described as "genocide against Christians." Similarly, a United States congressman, Riley Moore, posted on X on Monday, March 30, 2026, warning of potential strain in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States if Abuja failed to respond decisively. Moore condemned the killings as part of a recurring pattern of violence targeting religious groups on holy days, urging Nigerian authorities to significantly enhance security for the upcoming Triduum and Easter period. Meanwhile, Aloy Ejimakor, legal consultant to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), called for the creation of a “sovereign safe zone” for Christians in Nigeria, arguing it was the only permanent solution to the persistent violence and insecurity, and urged international leaders to intervene.