Plateau State, Nigeria, continues to grapple with a fragile security situation as renewed attacks claim lives and spark widespread concern, despite recent assurances from President Bola Tinubu. The latest incidents, including a Palm Sunday massacre and a subsequent ambush in Nyamgo Gyel, underscore the persistent challenges faced by both rural and urban communities in the region.

On Friday evening, three individuals were killed and one injured in a fresh ambush in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area. The victims, identified as Luka Pam (36), Samuel Davou (38), and Deme Saidu (35), were returning home from a mining site in Gero on a motorbike when they were attacked around 7 p.m. Witnesses reported that gunmen opened fire on a group of about 15 youths, causing chaos and flight. Dung Davou, a youth leader in Gyel, described the attack as sudden and chaotic, highlighting the community's urgent plea for authorities to address the repeated violence. Solomon Dalyop, Chairperson of the Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYM), noted that the victims had been observing Good Friday before their tragic deaths. He also revealed that community leaders had previously expressed concerns about suspicious movements in areas like Gero, Rafin Bauna, and Dutsen Kura during a security meeting with Fulani representatives and the military, cautioning that the situation could worsen without immediate intervention.

This latest killing spree follows closely on the heels of a devastating Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, where dozens of residents were killed and many more injured. Gunmen infiltrated a local bar posing as customers before opening fire, while others targeted a roadside market and a nearby church where people had gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday. Although no specific terrorist group claimed responsibility, the incident triggered widespread outrage and prompted increased security operations across the state, including the evacuation of students from the University of Jos. The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) held funeral prayers for four of its members killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack, confirming 28 fatalities in total. The Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Ghazali Ismaila Adam, led the prayers and called for patience and peace within the community.

President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State earlier in the week to commiserate with victims, holding a brief meeting at Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, where he assured residents that such attacks would not recur. He pledged, “To the victims, there is nothing I can give you, whether in billions of naira, but I can console you and promise that this experience will not repeat itself.” However, the President’s visit drew strong criticism from a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki. The PDP faction lambasted the visit as “performative and superficial,” accusing the President of lacking empathy and diplomacy. Their spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, cited the President’s perceived impatience, evident in his remark about the airport lacking light and his limited 10-minute stay, arguing that his words offered no solace and instead revealed contempt for the people. Ememobong further suggested that the President’s inability to venture beyond the airport was a damning indictment of the nation’s overwhelming insecurity, calling for the adoption of community engagement strategies to curb the violence.

In response to the escalating violence, the Plateau State Police Command has implemented stringent measures, including a statewide ban on night grazing and night mining activities. The command also reiterated its standing ban on commercial motorcycles within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis and prohibited commercial tricycles, also known as “Keke-Napep,” on an upcoming Sunday during the Easter celebration to enhance public safety. Police launched a manhunt for the assailants in Nyamgo Gyel, with the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alabo Alfred, confirming the latest attack. Despite these efforts and ongoing military operations, residents continue to express doubts about the effectiveness of current security measures, with community members in Gyel calling for increased deployment and sustained presence of security personnel in vulnerable areas. The historical context of Jos, marked by long-standing conflicts between predominantly Christian farming communities and mostly Muslim herders, continues to fuel concerns that armed groups are taking over bushes across parts of Plateau, further complicating the prospects for lasting peace.