BREAKING: Nigerians Defy Curfew, Storm Streets In Angry Protest Over Massacre
Hundreds of angry residents in Plateau State on Monday morning defied the state-imposed curfew, flooding the streets in protest over the deadly Palm Sunday attack that claimed several lives in Jos North Local Government Area.
The protest, which took place at the scene of the massacre in Anguwan Rukuba, was captured in a live TikTok stream
The visibly agitated residents were seen chanting and demanding urgent government action, insisting that the imposition of a curfew was not a solution to the recurring killings.
“People are outside because of the attack that happened yesterday. They chased the security men because they are not doing any help right here,” one of the protesting residents said.
“Yesterday around 7pm to 8pm in the night, there is was no light so these people (suspected terrorists) firing, as in straight shooting on rapid, a lot of people have to flee for their lives.”
The demonstrators accused authorities of failing to prevent repeated attacks in the area, describing the curfew as both “unnecessary” and “ineffective.”
However, the protest was soon disrupted as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force moved in to disperse the crowd.
Eyewitnesses said the officers began chasing protesters while preparing to fire tear gas canisters.
The eyewitness added, “People are now running because the police want to shoot at us. They want to fire teargas.”
The protest follows a gruesome attack on Sunday evening when suspected terrorists reportedly dressed in military uniforms stormed Anguwan Rukuba and opened fire on residents.
As earlier reported, the gunmen invaded the community at about 8 p.m., shooting indiscriminately at people in what eyewitnesses described as a busy market area.
“This is my area. Gunmen came around 8 p.m. to Angwa Rukuba and shot randomly at people. It’s a market setting. People who saw them said they came in soldier khaki. They left many injured,” a resident, Nyam Isaac, had said.
Another eyewitness account circulating on social media also described the attack as sudden and brutal.
“Crisis in Jos: Gunmen attacked Angwa Rukuba Community, killing several residents in sporadic shooting. Tension gripped the area after the sudden attack,” the post read.
Amid the outrage, some Nigerians expressed frustration over what they described as the normalisation of mass killings in the country.
“Jos is under curfew tonight. Palm Sunday. Gunmen on motorcycles shot through a student community and killed at least 10 people. Over 40 dead in Plateau since Thursday,” a social media user, Kaptain Kush, wrote.
“We have normalised the deaths of some Nigerians so completely that the normalisation itself no longer shocks us. That is the most frightening part,” he added.
Another user, Oyindamola, questioned the government’s response to the persistent violence.
“What happened in Jos yesterday is really sad… Why is the government allowing this to happen to its citizens? What kind of government is this?” she queried.
In response to the attack, the Plateau State Government imposed a 48-hour curfew across Jos North Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, confirmed the development in a statement, describing the killings as tragic and unacceptable.
“Following the tragic security incident that occurred at Gari Ya Waye community, Angwan Rukuba today, Sunday, resulting in the loss of lives… the government has imposed a 48-hour curfew within Jos North Local Government Area with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang also condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked,” and assured residents that security agencies had been mobilised to apprehend the perpetrators.
Despite these assurances, Monday’s protest highlights growing public anger and distrust, as residents continue to demand concrete action to halt the cycle of violence in Plateau State.
