Three persons have been killed and another injured following a fresh attack in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, barely 24 hours after the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the troubled region.
The incident, which occurred on Friday evening in Nyamgo Gyel community, has heightened concerns over the persistent insecurity plaguing parts of Plateau State.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the victims—identified as Luka Sandu Pam (36), Samuel Davou (38), and Deme Saidu (35)—were ambushed at about 7 p.m. while returning from Gero on a motorcycle. The attack reportedly took place as the group, comprising about 15 youths, made their way back from a mining site.
According to the Gyel Youth Leader, Dung Davou, the assailants, suspected to be armed herdsmen, opened fire on the group without warning, forcing members to flee for safety.
“We started hearing sporadic gunshots and everyone scattered. Unfortunately, three of our people were killed,” he said, calling for urgent intervention by security agencies.
Also reacting, the Chairman of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, Solomon Dalyop, described the killings as a tragic indication of worsening insecurity in the state.
Standing beside the bodies of the victims, Dalyop lamented that the youths had only gone out to mark Good Friday before meeting their untimely deaths.
“These young men went to mark Good Friday and were returning home when they were ambushed and killed. This is heartbreaking,” he stated.
He disclosed that community leaders had recently held a security meeting with members of the Fulani community at the Sector 2 Command of the Nigerian Army in Jos South, following reports of suspicious movements in surrounding areas.
Dalyop further warned that the situation could deteriorate if decisive action is not taken, alleging that armed groups have begun occupying bushes across parts of the state.
“If nothing serious is done, this may just be the beginning of more terror. Terrorists are taking over our bushes,” he added, while decrying what he described as inadequate security presence.
He noted that only police personnel responded after the attack, evacuating the injured survivor to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack adds to a growing wave of violence in Jos South and its environs, raising fresh concerns about the safety of residents and the effectiveness of ongoing security interventions.
Community members have since called for increased deployment of security personnel and enhanced surveillance, as preparations begin for the burial of the victims.
