Plateau Attack: Death Toll Rises To 27 In Angwa Rukuba Community

Suspected gunmen struck Angwa Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night, leaving no fewer than 27 persons dead.

Barr Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), confirmed the casualty figure on Monday. He said 14 victims died on the spot while 13 others passed away later in hospital. Their bodies have since been returned to the community for burial.

The attackers, who operated under the cover of darkness, opened indiscriminate fire on residents around 7:30pm. Panic gripped the densely populated area as people scampered for safety. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos with gunshots ringing out for several minutes before the assailants fled.

Mwantiri condemned the assault as another painful reminder of the recurring security failures plaguing Plateau communities. The BYM chief called on security agencies to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice without delay.

NaijaChoice News reports a discrepancy in the casualty count. While community leaders insist on 27 deaths, the Plateau State Police Command confirmed 14 persons killed, including two women. Investigations are ongoing.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the attack as barbaric and unprovoked. In response, the state government imposed a 48-hour curfew across Jos North to restore calm and prevent reprisals.

The incident adds to the long list of violent clashes in Plateau State, where farmer-herder tensions and banditry have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years. Residents are appealing for stronger security presence in the troubled Jos North axis.

Security forces have been deployed to the area, but many locals say decisive action is needed to end the cycle of bloodshed.