Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has stated that the security situation in Jos is now under control following a deadly attack in Angwan Rukuba on Sunday night. Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Mutfwang described the incident as "barbaric" and "an act of terrorism," confirming that corpses had been evacuated to the mortuary and some families had already buried their dead. A curfew initially imposed in the state was partially relaxed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but renewed disturbances linked to looting briefly disrupted the calm before security forces intervened by noon.
Residents in Nassarawa Gwom and surrounding areas reported fresh unrest, with gunshots and unverified attacks near a church triggering panic and mass evacuations. Security operatives were deployed, and the state government, through Mutfwang's media aide Gyang Bere, confirmed reinforcements across Jos while reviewing curfew measures. Despite official claims of stability, many residents remain skeptical, citing recurring violence and delayed security responses.
President Tinubu has postponed a trip to Ogun State to visit Jos as part of a four-state tour. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is to commiserate with victims and reflect federal concern over the killings. Mutfwang said Tinubu approved steps he proposed to address the crisis, though the attackers remain at large. The governor emphasized the attack was criminal, not religious, stating, "No religion permits this kind of action."
Caleb Mutfwang calling the Jos attack "terrorism" while still not having arrested a single perpetrator reveals how hollow such labels have become without enforcement. His curfew relaxations amid ongoing panic suggest crisis management is more about optics than safety. For residents who have buried neighbours and fled their homes, Tinubu's visit may feel like symbolism without substance—especially when the same violence repeats under multiple administrations. If past patterns hold, speeches and curfews will replace real accountability.
