Plateau State, Nigeria, was rocked by a devastating attack on the Gari Ya Waye community in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North LGA, on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, which claimed over 40 lives around 7:50 pm.

The massacre sparked widespread condemnation and intense controversy, including comments from popular influencer and singer Cubana Chief Priest, who controversially suggested the attack was orchestrated to embarrass President Bola Tinubu on his 74th birthday.

His remarks, criticizing Governor Caleb Mutfwang for visiting the scene in an armored vehicle, drew sharp backlash from fellow singer Skales, who decried the politicization of the tragedy and questioned Chief Priest’s conscience.

The violence on the ground intensified with a reprisal attack on the Jos-Bauchi highway, killing two more people, including Corps member Ibrahim Haruna, prompting Governor Mutfwang to impose a 48-hour curfew to prevent further escalation.

The controversy extended into social media and political circles, involving US missionary Alex Barbir, who accused the government of inaction, and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad, who condemned Barbir and later clashed online with Skales.

Additionally, MACBAN criticized religious leaders for allegedly inciting violence through inflammatory rhetoric, urging restraint and accountability to break the cycle of recurring attacks.

Amid the horror, acts of humanity stood out, such as a Christian man saving Muslim garden egg seller Sa’idu Murtala during the attack, highlighting inter-religious solidarity despite the violence.

Yet, the personal toll remains severe, with grieving families like that of Promise, a young boy killed in Angwan Rukuba, expressing anguish and calling for justice.

The Palm Sunday attack in Jos thus underscores a complex mix of mass casualties, political accusations, celebrity disputes, communal tensions, and moments of compassion, demanding urgent action from authorities and societal leaders to restore peace and accountability.