Gunmen kill at least 27 in nighttime attack in Nigeria, curfew imposed

At least 27 people were killed in a coordinated nighttime assault on the Gari Ya Waye and Angwan Rukuba communities in the Jos North area of Plateau State , local residents and officials reported. The attack occurred late on Palm Sunday, March 29 , when dozens of gunmen on motorcycles opened fire indiscriminately on civilians , including passengers, traders, and churchgoers returning home. Several others were injured and rushed to local hospitals.

Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap , confirmed the “loss of lives and injuries” but did not provide a precise casualty count. In response, the state government imposed a 48‑hour curfew across Jos North Local Government Area to prevent further violence.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack as “barbaric, senseless and unprovoked” , directing security agencies to intensify operations to apprehend the perpetrators. Security forces have been deployed to reinforce vulnerable communities and restore calm. Witnesses described assailants fleeing before the arrival of authorities, leaving behind destruction and panic, while some residents briefly protested in the aftermath.

The incident reflects a long-standing cycle of violence in Plateau State and Nigeria’s Middle Belt , where disputes over land, grazing rights , and the activities of armed gangs frequently escalate into deadly clashes between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and predominantly Christian farming communities. Analysts stress the need for intelligence-driven security measures and stronger community engagement to break the cycle of violence.