Fresh details have emerged from the deadly Palm Sunday attack in Jos, Plateau State, where local residents say no fewer than 27 Christians were killed after gunmen stormed Angwan Rukuba and nearby communities on March 29, 2026.
The attack, which happened in Jos North Local Government Area, has thrown the area into mourning and fear, especially as the violence reportedly struck student-populated communities.
According to the President of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, 14 people were confirmed dead at the scene, while 13 others later died in the hospital, bringing the total to 27.
However, another youth leader, Comrade Samson Chiroma, claimed the number may be even higher.
“At least 40 people have now been confirmed dead, with several others injured,” he said.
The attack reportedly affected Angwa Rukuba, Eto Baba, and nearby residential areas, with residents describing terrifying scenes as gunmen opened fire and forced people to flee for safety.
A resident of Angwa Rukuba, speaking to journalists, said:
“They are Boko Haram, not Fulani. We don’t know how many were killed, but many died.”
But in another version of events, some local sources alleged that the attackers were Fulani militia who arrived on motorcycles, fired sporadically at residents, and later retreated toward nearby mountainous areas.
Because of these conflicting claims, the exact identity of the attackers remains unconfirmed as of the time of reporting.
Witnesses also said there was sporadic gunfire at Angwa Rukuba Junction, where more casualties were recorded, while parts of the area were reportedly set ablaze during the assault.
Students living in Angwa Rukuba, Eto Baba, and surrounding school communities have now been advised to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement due to lingering security fears.
A humanitarian worker, Alex Barbir, also shared details of the attack in a video posted on his official social media pages, saying:
“10 Christians were killed on Palm Sunday.”
The latest violence has once again drawn attention to the recurring insecurity in Plateau State, where communities have repeatedly come under attack over the years.
Angwan Rukuba, a densely populated area in Jos, has remained one of several flashpoints in a region often affected by deadly violence linked to armed groups, banditry, and long-running tensions tied to land, religion, and ethnicity.
The tragedy is even more painful because it happened on Palm Sunday, the Christian holy day that marks Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week, which leads to Easter Sunday.
The attack also comes just one year after another Palm Sunday massacre in Plateau State, where 54 people were reportedly killed.
As outrage continues to spread, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has reacted strongly to the killings, warning that continued attacks on Christians in Nigeria could affect the country’s relationship with the United States.
In a post on X, Moore said:
“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that at least 10 Christians were martyred in the city of Jos.”
He further condemned the killings, describing them as “sickening and unacceptable,” while accusing Nigerian authorities of failing to adequately protect Christian communities during major holy periods.
Moore warned that if stronger security measures are not put in place ahead of the Easter celebrations, there could be “significant consequences” for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.
As of the time of filing this report, there has still been no official statement from security agencies confirming the casualty figures or the identity of those behind the attack.
For many residents, however, the bigger issue is simple: another holy day has been stained by blood, and once again, families in Plateau are left counting the dead.