Tinubu: Perpetrators of Plateau, Kaduna Killings Will Face Justice

• President summons Mutfwang; gov insists state won’t bow to fear 

•Idris: FG tracking perpetrators as Senate demands security overhaul

• CAN: Nigerians tired of government statements, demand action  

•EiE condemns killings, accuses FG of failing to protect Nigerians

• Troops intercept terrorists logistics supplies, apprehend 16 suspects 

•Boko Haram kills nine in Borno

Deji Elumoye, Olawale Ajimotokan, Sunday Aborisade, Kuni Tyessi, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos, Yemi Kosoko in Jos, and Muhammad Sabiru in Maiduguri

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed that security agencies would bring the perpetrators of the killings in Plateau and Kaduna  to face  justice.

The president, in a statement yesterday by his Special  Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the attacks were an affront to everything that the nation stood for.

He condemned what he described as the ‘cowardly’ attacks by gunmen in Angwan Rukuba district, Jos, Plateau State, just as he decried the attacks in Kahir village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Tinubu was reacting to the latest violence in the two troubled states, which  have left scores dead and communities displaced, underscoring a deepening security crisis in parts of Nigeria’s North-central and North-west regions, where recurring attacks by armed groups continue to strain Nigeria’s overstretched security architecture.

In Plateau, gunmen stormed the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos, attacking residents in a late-night raid marked by indiscriminate shooting. Local accounts and officials indicated that between 28 and 30 people were killed, with several others injured, in what has been described as a coordinated assault on a civilian community near the University of Jos.

The attackers reportedly arrived under the cover of darkness and opened fire on “soft targets,” deepening fears of renewed cycles of reprisal violence in the state.

Also in Kaduna, the violence took a different but equally disturbing form. In Kahir village, suspected bandits attacked a wedding gathering, killing at least 13 people and abducting dozens of guests.

The incident combined both mass killing and kidnapping, a pattern increasingly associated with armed groups operating in the North-west, where social events and rural communities have become frequent targets.

But describing the attack on the community in Jos and the killing and abduction of wedding guests in Kaduna as an affront to all that Nigeria stands for, Tinubu assured the people that the ‘barbaric’ acts would not go unpunished.

“Anyone who will sneak under the cover of the night and kill defenceless citizens as done in Jos and Kahir village, is a heartless coward. By attacking soft targets in Jos, their objective is not only to cause harm but also trigger a spiral of reprisal attacks and further bloodletting,” the president said.

He therefore directed security agencies to intensify all efforts to pursue the perpetrators and those spreading misinformation that could inflame tensions and further endanger lives. The president cautioned some sections of the media, insinuating that the attacks were religiously motivated.

Tinubu reaffirmed that security agencies were actively addressing the situation but stressed that public cooperation was vital to maintaining peace and protecting lives and property.

He stressed the need for communities to comply with evacuation, relocation, and related advice and processes, while hailing the safe return of two of the  Kaduna victims.

Tinubu said: “I urge our security agencies to be more proactive in preventing these attacks by acting on early warning intelligence. All the remaining abductees from Kahir village must be rescued immediately.

“I commend Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State for his efforts in containing the situation in Jos and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for supporting the rescue and containment efforts.

“I assure the people and government of the two states of my support. I commiserate with the families of those killed and pray for the quick recovery of the injured.  Our government is currently acquiring more sophisticated equipment to enable our security agencies to track and smash criminals, in real time, wherever they are.”

Mutfwang: Plateau Will Not Bow to Fear

Besides, the Plateau State Governor, Mutfwang, said the state would not bow to fear following the attack in Jos North Local Government Area. He described the attacks as a “senseless assault on innocent citizens” that had left 28 people dead and several others injured.

In a state-wide broadcast on Monday, the governor said the incident, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2026, had plunged the state into mourning.  He expressed deep sorrow over the killings, noting that the victims were law abiding residents carrying out their normal activities before assailants struck.

“We share deeply in the grief of the bereaved families,” Mutfwang said, praying for strength and comfort for those affected.

To prevent further escalation, the state government imposed a 48 hour curfew on Jos North, effective from midnight on Sunday. The governor said the measure was necessary to allow security agencies conduct comprehensive operations in the area.

He added that the curfew would be reviewed periodically to ease residents back into normal activities.

Mutfwang also visited the scene of the attack alongside security chiefs to assess the level of destruction. He later visited victims receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), where he announced that the state government would cover all medical expenses.

The governor disclosed that security agencies had arrested a suspect who had previously issued threats against the peace of the state. He assured residents that all perpetrators would be tracked down and prosecuted.

“This time, we shall pursue the cause of justice to its logical conclusion,” he said, pledging government’s support for the families of the deceased, including assistance with dignified burials and welfare for dependents.

Mutfwang praised community leaders and residents of Angwan Rukuba for refusing to retaliate despite the provocation, describing their conduct as a demonstration of maturity and commitment to peace.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that security is a collective responsibility.

Idris: FG Tracking Perpetrators of Killings

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris,  said the federal government remained resolute in its commitment to security and has launched targeted search-and-clearance operations to track down the perpetrators of the Plateau attack.

He stated this yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja, in relation to the latest security breaches in Plateau State.

Idris reiterated the resolve of the federal government to protect lives and property across the country, vowing that the country would not bow to criminal elements or acts of violence as it moved to restore lasting peace in Plateau.

“Nigeria will not yield to criminal elements. We will protect our people, and we will prevail. Nigerians must not allow criminal elements to divide communities. Nigeria’s unity remains strong, and we must all work together to sustain peace and stability across the country,” the minister stated.

He, however, commiserated with the families of the victims, government and people of Plateau State and assured Nigerians that security agencies had responded immediately to the incident while troops under ‘Operation Enduring Peace’ were rapidly mobilised to the scene to prevent further escalation following distress calls.

He explained that the swift actions ensured that the situation was quickly contained, noting that the response constituted part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security across Plateau and the wider North-central region.

“This response is part of a broader and sustained federal government security architecture in Plateau State and the wider North-central region. The Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to carry out clearance operations and intelligence-led missions across vulnerable communities following attacks recorded in recent months.

“Reinforced surveillance and troop deployments have also been implemented in high-risk areas, supported by joint military-police patrols and strengthened rapid response mechanisms.

These coordinated efforts are designed to neutralise threats proactively and maintain stability,” he added.

Idris also spoke about the full commitment of the Tinubu administration to addressing security challenges through targeted operations and strategic coordination among security agencies.

According to him, the president had already met with top security and intelligence chiefs to review the situation and take further decisive steps.

The minister disclosed that Mutfwang had also been summoned by the president for further consultations to strengthen collaboration and ensure a coordinated response towards lasting peace.

He acknowledged the deliberate step since the carnage by the Plateau State Government, including the imposition of a 48-hour curfew in Jos North to stabilise the situation and support ongoing operations.

Describing the attack as highly regrettable, Idris stressed that federal and state authorities were working in tandem to prevent reprisal attacks, restore calm and facilitate investigations.

Senate Wants Permanent Military Bases, Demands Security Overhaul

The Senate, yesterday, moved decisively against Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, ordering the immediate establishment of permanent military and joint security bases in troubled parts of Plateau State, while also demanding a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.

The resolutions came amid outrage over fresh killings in Plateau, as lawmakers decried persistent intelligence failures and the growing boldness of armed attackers, even as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement, issued an ultimatum to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), to either deliver results or step aside.

The upper chamber, presided over by Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, observed a minute silence in honour of victims of the latest attacks and resolved to send a delegation to affected communities.

The decisions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), who drew attention to recent coordinated attacks in Kanam and Jos North Local Government Areas, where scores of residents were killed and many others injured.

Leading the debate, Plang lamented that Plateau State, once known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism,” had degenerated into a theatre of recurring violence, with communities repeatedly targeted by well-organised gunmen.

He cited the attack on Angwan Rukuba in Jos North on Sunday, March 29, 2026, describing it as a calculated assault on unsuspecting civilians.

“This recent attack was clearly coordinated and targeted at innocent people going about their normal activities,” he said, warning that the pattern of violence increasingly reflects acts of terrorism rather than isolated communal clashes.

Seconding the motion, former Plateau State governor and Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong, questioned the effectiveness of previous interventions, including national security summits.

Lalong said: “We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results. If these summits are to mean anything, then we must return to the drawing board and adopt new strategies.”

He also expressed concern that prior warnings of impending attacks, often circulated on social media, were ignored, enabling assailants to strike with impunity.

Other senators echoed similar concerns, highlighting the sophistication and coordination of the attacks, with perpetrators reportedly operating in formations and evading capture.

They called for enhanced synergy among security agencies, improved intelligence gathering, deployment of modern surveillance technologies, and stricter legal measures to ensure swift prosecution of offenders.

Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously adopted key resolutions, including directing the establishment of permanent joint security operational bases in volatile areas.

The chamber also urged the Chief of Defence Staff and other security chiefs to intensify intelligence operations and deploy aerial surveillance to track and neutralise criminal elements.

In addition, lawmakers called on the federal government to fast-track recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force and the armed forces to address manpower shortages, while mandating the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide urgent relief to displaced persons.

Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan has issued a strongly worded challenge to the Minister of Defence,  Musa, over the killings in Jos. The senator in a statement from her Media Office, described the attack as a grim reflection of the government’s inability to protect citizens.

In a direct message to the minister, she said the incident underscored a widening gap between assurances given during his Senate screening and current realities on the ground.

“Angwan Rukuba is another brutal reminder that Nigerians remain unprotected,” she stated, demanding urgent and measurable action, even as she warned that continued inaction would no longer be tolerated.

CAN Demands End to Incessant Killings

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned in the strongest terms, the Plateau attack. It said Palm Sunday was meant to be a day of peace, hope, and reflection, but became a day of bloodshed of innocent Nigerians.

In a statement by its National President, Daniel Okoh, it said men, women and children were hunted and killed in cold blood, noting that this was not just tragic, but unacceptable.

The statement read: “We mourn. We grieve. But we must also speak the truth. How did we get here? How is it that people can no longer feel safe in their own homes? How is it that, even on a sacred day, communities are left exposed to such terror?

“Nigerians are tired of mourning. Nigerians are tired of statements. Nigerians want to see action. Those responsible for this atrocity must be found, arrested and made to face justice; swiftly and decisively. Anything less will only deepen the sense that life in our country is no longer protected.

“The use of fake or imitation military uniforms by these attackers is particularly alarming. It strikes at the very heart of public trust and must be thoroughly investigated. Our security institutions must not only respond; they must stay ahead of these threats.”

The CAN president acknowledged the efforts of the Plateau State Government so far and emphasised that temporary measures are not enough. “The people of Plateau, and indeed all Nigerians, deserve lasting security, not periodic reassurance,” CAN added.

It called on Christian faithful across the nation  to be prayerful and also vigilant, stressing:  “As you prepare for Good Friday solemnities and the Stations of the Cross (in some denominations), and as churches gather for Easter Eve vigils and night services, take deliberate steps to protect yourselves and your congregations. Stay alert. Work with security agencies and local authorities. Look out for one another.”

Okoh said while faith must remain strong, and paired with wisdom, Christians would not allow fear to silence their worship, nor will they ignore the dangers around, stressing that the Holy Week should remind them that light will always overcome darkness.

“A nation cannot keep bleeding like this and expect to move forward. We owe the dead justice. We owe the living protection. And we owe our future a country where no community wakes up to gunfire on a sacred day,” CAN stated.

EiE: Govt Failing to Protect Nigerians

Civic advocacy group, Enough is Enough Nigeria, has condemned the Plateau killings, describing them as part of a growing pattern of government failure to protect lives across the country.

In a statement, yesterday, the group said at least 28 people were killed on March 29, 2026, Palm Sunday, when gunmen attacked residents of Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area.

It noted that the incident added to a series of violent attacks that have claimed over 200 lives nationwide in less than two months.

Quoting former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the statement said, “The greatest danger to Nigeria today is the inaction of those who should serve and save it.”

EiE Nigeria said the Jos attack followed similar incidents in Maiduguri, where coordinated suicide bombings on March 16 killed at least 27 people and injured 146 others, and in Kwara State, where armed attackers reportedly killed at least 162 residents in early February.

“That is over 200 Nigerians killed in less than two months. And the question that demands an answer from every level of government is this: Who is protecting Nigerian lives?” the group asked.

Troops Intercept Terrorists’ Logistics Supplies, Apprehend 16

Meanwhile, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have intercepted truckloads of terrorist logistics supplies and apprehended 16 suspects during a series of coordinated operations across the North-East, as part of intensified efforts to disrupt insurgent networks.

The operations also saw troops foil multiple attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters. In Damboa, troops thwarted a planned assault after detecting insurgent movements through surveillance systems.

They engaged the terrorists, forcing them to retreat in disarray, while follow-up exploitation operations confirmed their withdrawal.

Similar attempts to attack farmers and communities in Gwoza and Askira Uba Local Government Areas of Borno State were repelled, with the insurgents fleeing towards the Mandara Mountains and adjoining areas.

As part of sustained offensive actions, troops discovered and safely detonated an improvised explosive device planted along the Goniri–Ngamdu axis, intended to target both troops and civilian commuters.

According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, items recovered during the operations—including rail tracks used to channel vehicles into ambush points—highlighted ongoing efforts by terrorists to disrupt movement along key routes.

Troops also recorded major gains against terrorist logistics networks. At Molai, two suspected Boko Haram collaborators were arrested under suspicious circumstances within a defensive area.

In Maiduguri, troops intercepted vehicles conveying large quantities of suspected logistics supplies along the Maiduguri–Mafa road.

The consignments, equivalent to two truckloads, were concealed in sacks and included cartons of medical supplies, motorcycle tubes and tyres, mosquito nets, mats, air filter cylinders and detergents.

Preliminary findings, the military said, indicated that the items were being transported without clearance towards Kusuri, a border community near Chad. The vehicles, drivers and recovered items have been handed over for further investigation.

In a related operation, troops working with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives arrested a suspected logistics supplier, Mohammed Adamu, aged 26, at Muna Garage.

Items recovered from him included 25 litres of engine oil concealed in sacks, N624,900 in cash, a mobile phone, a power bank, a national identity card and ATM cards.

Preliminary investigations suggest he had been supplying motorcycle parts and other logistics to terrorists over an extended period. Further operations in Gubio, conducted in collaboration with intelligence operatives and CJTF members, led to the arrest of 13 suspected logistics suppliers and collaborators.

Two additional suspects apprehended in the same area reportedly confessed to long-term involvement in supporting terrorist activities.

In another development, troops arrested a suspected member of the JAS/ISWAP terrorist group, identified as Abubakar Ali, also known as “Saina”, at the Kilo Papa checkpoint while en route to Maiduguri. Initial interrogation indicated that he was on a reconnaissance mission.

He has since been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation. Troops also apprehended a suspected kidnapper in the Azir area of Damboa Local Government Area.

Boko Haram Kills Nine in Borno

Also, Boko Haram insurgents on Monday reportedly killed nine residents in Kautikari village of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State. The terrorists invaded the Christian dominated community at about 6pm and killed the leader of the Hunters, Mallam Bumto, who arrived from Lagos State on Sunday.

Sources told THISDAY that the terrorists also killed Mr. Yohanna Peter, whose wedding was slated for today (Tuesday) in Kautikari Church alongside seven (7) other residents.

“The attackers also looted food stuff, livestock and displaced many people of the community,” said one of the sources.

The Senator representing the zone, Ali Ndume, confirmed the attack, while sympathising with the families of nine victims. Ndume, in a press statement, yesterday, prayed God to grant Eternal Rest to the Souls of those killed and wished the injured ones quick recovery.

He lamented that the Nigerian Security Operatives, especially the military, lacked the firepower to end the over decade Boko Haram atrocities in the North East.

“The federal government must procure sophisticated weapons such as fighter jets, drones, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to decisively deal with or confront the terrorists in Sambisa Forests, Timbuktu Triangle,  Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad region which have remained enclaves and hideouts of the dreaded terrorists group,” he said.

He emphasised that Technology, Equipment, Arms/Ammunition and Motivation (TEAAM) must be provided to the military and other security agencies, especially frontline troops to end the war.

“For many years ago, I was one of the strong advocates, calling upon the military to take the war to the door steps of insurgents, be proactive rather than reactive, unfortunately, I was made to understand that the military are not fully equipped to the tasks, and therefore, let me urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please do the needful,” he said.

He also commended troops, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Hunters and Vigilantes for their unwavering sacrifices and commitment in the fight against terrorism and other criminalities not only in the North East, but the country as a whole.

Military Denies Complicity in Terrorist Attack on Rukuba Community

The military has dismissed allegations of complicity in the terrorist attack on Rukuba Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing claims that troops provided cover for the perpetrators as false and misleading.

The allegations, which were attributed to a youth leader from Angwan Rukuba and circulated on social media, suggested that troops aided those responsible for the Palm Sunday attack.

However, the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, stated that the claims were unfounded and did not reflect the reality of events.

In a statement, the JTF said although it would ordinarily refrain from responding at a time of grief, it was necessary to set the record straight for clarity and in the interest of the public.

It stressed that at no point did troops provide any form of support or cover for the attackers who carried out the assault that claimed innocent lives.

The JTF Media Information Officer, Capt. Chinonso Oteh, explained that troops responded promptly after receiving a distress call, mobilising to the scene despite the distance from their deployment location.

On arrival, the attackers, he said, had already fled, noting that the troops acted professionally to prevent further escalation and immediately pursued the fleeing assailants, a response corroborated by survivors and other witnesses.

He further disclosed that four gun trucks were deployed to the scene, with personnel conducting themselves in a manner consistent with operational standards, as confirmed by other security agencies and eyewitness accounts. He added that the allegations were investigated and found to be false.

The military described the claims as unfortunate and capable of undermining troops’ morale as well as straining relations between security forces and the host community.

It urged the public to disregard the allegations, remain calm and law-abiding, and continue to support security agencies with credible information.