JOS, Nigeria — The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has revealed that both local residents and national security agencies were caught completely unprepared during a recent violent assault in Jos, the state capital. Speaking during an interview on Friday, April 3, 2026, the governor explained that the attack was entirely unexpected due to a sustained period of stability in the region.
The city of Jos, located in the North Central region of Nigeria, had enjoyed nearly a year of peace before the sudden outbreak of violence. Governor Caleb Mutfwang noted that this era of calm led to a lapse in vigilance. “As a matter of fact, the community was blindsided. The security personnel were also caught off guard because of the relative peace we have enjoyed, particularly in the last 10 months to one year. So nobody envisaged this kind of thing,” he stated.
According to the governor, the assailants utilized deceptive tactics by mimicking the appearance and behavior of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the federal body responsible for combating drug trafficking in Nigeria. Residents are accustomed to seeing these officers conduct raids against drug abuse in the suburbs.
The governor explained that the gunmen wore hoods and fired their weapons in a manner that mirrored official law enforcement activities. “Obviously, the attackers had studied the psychology of the people, who are used to seeing operatives of the NDLEA who come to raid neighbouring communities in search of drug addicts,” Mutfwang said.
Okay News reports that this disguise caused a fatal delay in the community’s response. The governor added, “So they came in that manner, hooded, and were shooting in the same way NDLEA officers operate. People initially assumed it was an NDLEA operation and did not resist, but when they realised what was happening, a lot of damage had already been done.”
By the time the witnesses recognized the danger and attempted to defend themselves or seek cover, the perpetrators had already retreated. The attack, which took place on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at a prominent road junction in the city, resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals. Among the victims were students and employees of the University of Jos, a major federal institution.
Governor Mutfwang described the event as deeply concerning, particularly because it occurred in the heart of the urban center rather than in remote rural areas. Despite the severity of the loss, he maintained a hopeful outlook for the future of the state. “It’s quite unfortunate. It’s quite worrisome, having such an incident occur in the city centre,” he stated, before concluding, “But we are confident that by God’s grace this will be a one-off event and not a recurring situation.”
