Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has revealed that gunmen behind the recent massacre in Jos disguised as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to infiltrate a community and unleash deadly violence that left at least 28 people dead.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, also left several residents injured, with no arrests made as of Friday despite mounting public outrage.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier visited the state on Thursday to commiserate with victims’ families and directed security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the killings.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Mutfwang said the assailants exploited residents’ familiarity with routine NDLEA raids to gain entry into the area before opening fire.
According to him, the attackers arrived hooded and operated in a manner similar to anti-drug operatives, causing residents to initially mistake them for legitimate security personnel.
“They clearly understood the pattern of security operations in the area. People are used to NDLEA officials storming neighbouring communities, so when these gunmen came in that guise, residents did not suspect anything at first,” the governor said.
He added that by the time the community realised the deception, the attackers had inflicted significant casualties and fled the scene.
“It was only after the shooting intensified that people understood what was happening, but by then, considerable damage had been done and the attackers had escaped,” he stated.
Mutfwang disclosed that although no suspects had been apprehended, security agencies were working with credible intelligence to track down the perpetrators.
“At the moment, no arrests have been made, but there is actionable intelligence being pursued. We are hopeful it will lead to those behind this heinous act,” he said, declining further details due to ongoing investigations.
The governor described the assault as premeditated and professionally executed, noting that the attackers demonstrated a high level of marksmanship.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that these were not random shooters. They were well-trained and deliberate in their actions,” he said.
He further noted that the attack caught both residents and security operatives off guard, following nearly 10 months of relative peace in the state.
While condemning the killings, Mutfwang urged residents to refrain from reprisals, warning that the attackers’ objective was to destabilise Plateau and reverse recent peace gains.
“The intention is to throw the state into chaos and undo the progress we have made. We must not fall into that trap,” he cautioned.
The governor assured that once suspects are arrested, they would be prosecuted without compromise.
“We will not sweep this under the carpet. Those responsible will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
He also revealed that security operatives had earlier arrested a suspected instigator accused of fuelling tensions on social media prior to the attack, adding that prosecution would commence after the Easter holidays.
Mutfwang warned against the misuse of digital platforms to incite violence, stressing that his administration would intensify efforts to clamp down on individuals spreading inflammatory content.
Despite the tragedy, the governor expressed confidence in the resilience of Plateau residents, insisting that attempts to displace communities through violence would ultimately fail.
“Plateau people are resilient. Those behind these attacks will not succeed in their agenda,” he added.