Violence has erupted in Jos, where mobs formed across the city on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and several others injured, according to eyewitness accounts and local reports. The unrest comes just days after a deadly weekend attack and ahead of a planned visit by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The latest violence follows the killing of around 30 people by unidentified gunmen at a bar over the weekend. Unverified claims circulating on social media suggested that the victims were targeted along religious lines during Palm Sunday, intensifying tensions in the already volatile region.
An AFP reporter on the ground witnessed chaotic scenes, including crowds smashing vehicles, setting a tricycle taxi ablaze, and fleeing as security forces moved in. At least two bodies were seen lying in the streets, while others were transported to hospitals.
Residents described targeted attacks amid the confusion. One eyewitness said a group of youths stopped a commuter taxi and assaulted two passengers, killing one. Others reported gunfire, with victims unsure whether they were deliberately targeted or caught in crossfire.
Security forces, including the military, were deployed across the city to restore order, at times firing shots into the air to disperse crowds. By Wednesday afternoon, streets had largely emptied as fear spread among residents.
The University of Jos ordered the evacuation of student housing, citing safety concerns, with the state government providing transport for affected students.
Jos, the capital of Plateau State, has long experienced tensions rooted in ethnic, religious, and land-use disputes. While many communities coexist peacefully, periodic outbreaks of violence often involving farmers and herders have led to deadly clashes in the past.
President Tinubu is expected to visit the city to commiserate with victims and assess the situation, as authorities work to contain further escalation. The full toll of the unrest remains unclear, and investigations into both the weekend attack and Wednesday’s violence are ongoing.
The situation underscores the fragility of security in parts of north-central Nigeria, where local grievances can quickly escalate into broader communal conflict
