A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in parts of Jos after gunmen attacked an open-air bar, triggering deadly reprisals, according to local reports. At least 12 people were reportedly killed when the attackers stormed the drinking spot, while a retaliatory mob attack is said to have left 10 others dead.
Announcing the curfew, Plateau State governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang said an investigation had been launched and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice. The state has long been regarded as one of Nigeria’s most volatile regions due to recurring violence. Chairperson of the Plateau State Youth Council, Paul Mancha, suggested the death toll could be higher, noting that many victims had died while others were receiving treatment in hospitals.
In a statement, the governor described the killings as “barbaric and unprovoked,” adding that security agencies had been directed to track down the perpetrators. Residents also claimed that threats had circulated on social media prior to the attack.
The curfew, which took effect at midnight, will remain in place until April 1, with residents ordered to stay indoors as security patrols intensify across affected areas. Security forces, including troops, were deployed shortly after the incident to restore order and stabilise the situation.
Plateau State, located in central Nigeria, has frequently witnessed clashes, often linked to tensions between largely Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farming communities over land and water resources. Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges nationwide, including insurgency in the northeast and widespread banditry and kidnappings in the northwest and central regions.
Observers say these overlapping security threats have stretched resources and complicated response efforts. The latest violence underscores the fragile security situation in the area and how quickly tensions can escalate, even as authorities maintain that efforts are underway to restore calm.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/
