At least 22 people have died in Nigeria's Plateau State after a coordinated attack and subsequent mob violence shook the city of Jos on March 29. Unidentified gunmen targeted a crowded entertainment venue in the Anguwan Rukuba area, killing 12 people in what witnesses described as a sudden burst of gunfire.
Local youth leader Mangalle Idris told KhabarAsia.com that retaliatory violence erupted within hours, with enraged residents attacking bystanders and street vendors. "The mob used knives and clubs indiscriminately," Idris said, confirming 10 additional deaths from the counter-violence.
Plateau State authorities have imposed a 72-hour curfew across Jos North district effective immediately, with security forces patrolling empty streets since Sunday night. Nurudeen Hussaini Magaji of the Plateau State Red Cross confirmed emergency teams are providing first aid and documenting casualties.
While no group has claimed responsibility, analysts note this incident follows historic tensions between farming and herding communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt region. Security consultant Adewale Ogunbiyi observed: "Jos had seen relative calm since 2021, but this attack shows underlying conflicts remain unresolved."
The state government has launched a special investigation committee, urging residents to avoid speculation. International observers are monitoring the situation closely, given Nigeria's strategic importance in African economic and security frameworks.
