A fresh outbreak of violence struck communities in Plateau State this weekend as suspected gunmen ambushed civilians, killing multiple people and leaving others injured, deepening concerns about a worsening security crisis in the region.
According to eyewitnesses and local leaders, three men — Luka Sandu Pam (36), Samuel Davou (38) and Deme Saidu (35) — were shot dead around 7 p.m. on Friday in Nyamgo Gyel, a community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. One other person survived the ambush with serious injuries.
The victims were returning home on a motorcycle with a group of about 15 youths coming from a mining site when gunmen opened fire without warning. Community members described hearing sporadic shots that forced the group to scatter, but Pam, Davou and Saidu were struck down in the chaos.
Leaders in the area say the attack has left residents traumatised and enraged. The Gyel Youth Leader, Dung Davou, spoke of a community in shock, urging authorities to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed. “This is heartbreaking,” he said, lamenting repeated incidents that have claimed innocent lives.
The Chairman of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, Barrister Solomon Dalyop, criticised the lack of adequate security presence and warned that armed groups were exploiting gaps to terrorise rural communities. He noted recent intelligence meetings involving community figures and military officials, but said more decisive action is needed before violence escalates further.
This latest attack comes on the heels of a deadly uprising in Jos North, where gunmen stormed the Angwan Rukuba neighbourhood late last month. That assault, which reportedly involved attackers disguising themselves as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), left at least 28 people dead and many injured as residents were caught off guard. Local authorities imposed a 48-hour curfew afterward in a bid to restore calm.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has condemned these killings as “barbaric and unprovoked,” affirming that security agencies are pursuing leads with “actionable intelligence” to bring perpetrators to justice. The governor also urged residents to remain law-abiding as investigations continue.
The killings reflect a broader pattern of insecurity in central Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where disputes involving land, herders, farmers and organised criminal gangs have fuelled recurring violence. Communities in and around Jos have been especially vulnerable to attacks in recent years, prompting repeated calls for enhanced security and meaningful conflict prevention efforts.
Local residents have since called for heightened security deployment and increased vigilance as preparations begin for the burial of the victims, hoping that authorities will act decisively to prevent another surge in violence.
