There is heightened tension in Jos, Plateau State, on Wednesday following the relaxation of the 48-hour curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government.
The curfew was initially imposed after gunmen attacked residents of Angwan Rukuba in Jos, leaving at least 28 people dead.
However, the state government eased the curfew earlier imposed on the Jos North Local Government Area following improved security in the area.
The Commissioner for Information, Joyce Ramnap, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, explained that the curfew will now run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, effective Wednesday, April 1, to allow residents to attend to their normal activities within the permitted hours.
But on Wednesday morning, the relaxation of the curfew failed to ease tensions in Jos, as hoodlums and an irate mob reportedly attacked many motorists and passersby in different parts of the city of Jos, causing fresh fear and panic among residents.
It was learned that at the road leading to the University of Jos Permanent Site, a young man walking on the road was hacked to death after he was attacked by hoodlums.
It was further learned that several motorists in the Terminus and Bauchi Road, Gangere areas, had their windscreens smashed by hoodlums.
It was gathered that the most affected areas included the University of Jos axis, Bauchi Road, Farin Gada, Tina Junction, and Chobe, among others, a situation which paralysed business activities in the state capital
The situation was said to have forced banks located in the affected areas to close down their operations
“We are scared to open our shops, we don’t know what might happen. But there is no need for the current tension in Jos. The governor has done well by relaxing the curfew in the interest of the people, but it’s very unfortunate how some people can decide to take the law into their hands for no reason, and I think the government should not allow them to have their way. But the government needs to do more to ensure our safety,” a resident, Joy Bature, who runs a provision shop at the Terminus Market, said.
The University of Jos Alumni Association, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed concern over the recent rise in tension and reported threats affecting students, staff, and the broader university community within Jos North Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by its Global President, Gad Peter Shamaki, the association urged the Plateau State Government and security agencies to deploy an enhanced security presence across all University of Jos campuses, student hostels, residential areas, and major access routes.
“We specifically request round-the-clock patrols, intelligence-led surveillance, and rapid response units to ensure that any potential threats are proactively addressed and swiftly neutralized,” Shamaki said.
The association also advised students to stay indoors, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity, prioritizing their safety and well-being.
A cross-section of residents who also reacted to the situation called for increased security deployment, particularly around the University of Jos, where students are stranded.
“There’s an urgent need for security deployment to the University of Jos environment, precisely the students’ village hostel.
“We appeal to the security agencies to beam their searchlight around that axis,” said a resident.
Another resident, Ishaku Mark, who lamented the situation, noted, “The Plateau State Government has relaxed the curfew, allowing movement from 7 am to 3 pm daily, effective April 1, 2026, following relative calm in the area after a violent attack that claimed 28 lives. What needs to be done is for the residents to maintain peace and not escalate tensions. Those responsible for the renewed tension should be fished out and dealt with.”
Contacted, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was not readily available to comment on the situation, but sources at the command headquarters in Jos assured all that security agencies had been deployed to the affected areas and were working to restore calm and maintain law and order.
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