The Plateau State chapter of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has revealed that the Muslim community was not spared in the deadly Sunday night attack on the Gari Ya Waye community in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, JNI State Secretary Salim Umar confirmed that four Muslims were killed and 10 others remain missing following the onslaught. This disclosure counters early social media narratives suggesting the attack—which has now seen the confirmed death toll rise to 34—targeted a single religious group.
Key Findings from the JNI Report
- Identification of Victims: The bodies of the four deceased Muslim members were identified by relatives at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) mortuary.
- The Missing Ten: Families have been unable to account for 10 individuals since the gunmen, reportedly dressed in NDLEA uniforms, stormed the suburb on motorcycles.
- Injuries: Two other Muslim community members are currently receiving emergency treatment at JUTH for gunshot wounds.
- Call for Unity: Salim Umar urged the public to disregard “divisive rumors” and praised the state government’s swift imposition of the 48-hour curfew to prevent retaliatory violence between religious blocks.
Security and Humanitarian Situation (As of April 1, 2026)
The situation in Jos North remains tense but stable under the strictly enforced curfew, which is set to expire at midnight tonight.
- Casualty Update: Local sources and hospital officials now place the total number of fatalities at 34, with over 50 people sustaining various degrees of injury.
- Displaced Residents: Following the attack, hundreds of residents, including students of the University of Jos, have temporarily fled the Angwan Rukuba axis, seeking refuge in safer parts of the city.
- Military Presence: Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) maintain a heavy presence at major junctions, including the Bauchi Road and Farin Gada axes, to ensure the curfew is not breached.
Political and Civil Response
The Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA) has condemned the “chameleon-like” tactics of the attackers who used official uniforms to gain entry into the community. The agency warned that such tactics are designed to trigger a breakdown of trust between the civilian population and security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State Chapter, issued a joint condolence message with the JNI, calling for a “united front against the common enemy of bandits and terrorists” regardless of faith.
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