A Tragic Attack in Jos and the Ongoing Crisis of Insecurity
On Sunday night, a group of armed men appeared at the heart of Angwan Rukuba in Jos and began shooting. When they left, dozens of people lay dead. The police officially reported 27 fatalities, but the exact number remains uncertain, as does the identity of the attackers—whether they were terrorists, bandits, or random criminals. No arrests have been made, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
What is certain is that innocent Nigerians were needlessly killed. This tragic incident is yet another reminder of the persistent crisis of insecurity in Nigeria. The aftermath was gory, with images that will stay with many. One such image is that of a mother cradling the head of her dead son—a powerful symbol of the human cost of this ongoing violence. It should be one of the defining images of Nigeria’s reality.
The attack on Angwan Rukuba has brought the long-troubled city of Jos back into the spotlight regarding the politics of insecurity in the country. Anyone familiar with Jos and its complex geography understands that the choice of Angwan Rukuba for the attack was not random. It was either a coincidence or a carefully planned move.
Angwan Rukuba has played a central role in the crises that have shaped Plateau State since 2001. Before that year, it was a predominantly Christian community with a small Muslim population. After the events of September 7, 2001, it transformed into a completely Christian district, with Muslims either killed or expelled. This shift led to the formation of militant Christian groups that frequently attacked Muslim communities. Similarly, the Muslim-majority area of Angwan Rogo became a garrison district, mirroring the actions of their Christian counterparts.
The recent attack on Angwan Rukuba was not aimed at expelling Christians from the area, as that would be unrealistic. Instead, it was designed to provoke a reaction and reignite the conflict within Jos. Once the city is triggered, the entire country could be affected.
Managing the tensions following the attack is crucial. A curfew was imposed to prevent further violence between the communities. However, when the curfew was lifted on Wednesday, some violent incidents occurred around the city.
Beyond managing the immediate tensions, sincere efforts must be made to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. This call for justice is not new, as it has been repeated after every similar incident. Dispensing justice to those responsible for crimes like this is the only way to end the cycle of violence and build sustainable peace. The absence of justice fuels further unrest, and the lack of protection and accountability from the government has contributed to the current crisis.
Instead of addressing these issues, there has been a tendency to politicize such crimes. Even before the bodies were cleared from the scene, a foreigner named Alex Barbir, who appears to suffer from a White Saviour Complex, arrived to frame the narrative of the attack. He presented the incident as evidence of Christian genocide, despite some victims being Muslim, and called out the Nigerian president, claiming he would “pay” for his actions.
Mr. Barbir, a foreigner, should not have a say in Nigeria’s affairs, especially when foreign terrorists are freely entering the country to commit acts of violence. It is not Mr. Barbir who is to blame, but rather Nigeria for allowing such incursions. The porous borders and weak governance have created an environment where foreigners can exploit local tensions.
Mr. Barbir initially entered the country under the guise of humanitarian work, helping to rebuild houses destroyed in conflicts. If the government had taken proactive steps to secure communities and provide support to displaced residents, would he have found an excuse to enter? His habit of appearing in selective conflict areas and using divisive rhetoric, including misquoting the Qur’an to deepen religious divides, is concerning. No reasonable country would allow even its citizens to act with such impunity, let alone a foreigner.
While arresting Mr. Barbir may not be warranted, his activities warrant an investigation and possible deportation. This would send a clear message that the government will not tolerate foreigners exploiting local tensions to fuel insecurity. If the Department of State Services (DSS) is serious about its duties, it should look into his case and take appropriate action. It should also investigate the actual perpetrators of the attack in Angwan Rukuba.
There has been a significant amount of irresponsibility and incompetence that has led to the current situation. Political and religious leaders have both contributed to the ongoing crisis.
In March, Boko Haram attacked the village of Ngoshe in Borno, killing over 150 people and abducting dozens. Despite the severity of this incident, the media coverage and public outrage were not as intense as those surrounding the attack in Jos. This disparity may be due to the fact that the perpetrators were clearly identified as Boko Haram, and the victims were mostly Muslims in an isolated village.
Yet, Muslim religious leaders did not show the same level of outrage as their Christian counterparts. Clerics like Yahya Jingir have instead focused on campaigning for the president before the official political campaigns even began. His tendency to spread false information, such as claims that JAMB exams have been canceled to help poor students afford university, or that food prices have dropped significantly, suggests he is living in an alternate reality. When religious leaders, whose duty is to hold political leaders accountable for good governance, instead promote a distorted view of the government, it is disingenuous and cruel.
Despite the ongoing tensions in Plateau, it is important to recognize the efforts of members of both Christian and Muslim communities who are working to ensure safe passage for members of the opposite faith during precarious times. These individuals may not have realized it at the time, but they have effectively countered the intentions of those behind the attack.
Such efforts must be supported by proactive government action. Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s appearance at the crime scene in an armored truck was not reassuring. While the people were angry, the optics of the governor addressing them from inside a vehicle were far from comforting. Although the governor has limited control over the security apparatus, he has the power to ensure that the perpetrators are pursued.
As a governor, he must not allow his legacy to be that of a leader who only appears after each bloodbath in his state to make hollow promises. These promises must be fulfilled, or the people will lose faith, which could lead to irreversible consequences. The situation requires both commitment and urgency, and the governor must ensure that the aims of the attackers are thwarted by maintaining peace.
The 48-hour curfew was a necessary intervention, albeit painful. What comes next after yet another cold-blooded killing remains uncertain. The path forward must involve decisive action and a commitment to lasting change.
