‎At least nine people, including three teenage herders and six bus passengers, have been killed in two separate gun attacks in Plateau State within 24 hours.

‎Reports of the killings coincided with the visit of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, to troops 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) to consolidate security gains.

‎The most recent attack occurred at about 8:30pm on Sunday, when gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Kuru T-junction, near Science School in Jos South Local Government Area, killing six passengers, five men and a woman, and injuring two others, counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, posted on X.

‎DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS gathered that troops of Sector 6, OPEP, responded to a distress call and found that the attackers, travelling in a vehicle, had opened fire on commuters heading from the Farin Lamba axis before fleeing the scene.

‎The injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment, and troops had yet to make contact with the assailants as an exploitation of the surrounding area continued on Monday.

‎The bus attack came less than 24 hours after three teenage herders were killed and dozens of cattle shot dead on Saturday, in Alohom community, Sabon Gari District of Mangu Local Government Area, in violence attributed by residents to suspected militia. The herders were identified by the Fulbe community as Garzali Shaibu, 18; Bashiru Yakubu, 14; and Salim Abubakar, 15. Thirty-six cattle were killed and 12 others wounded, while two other members of the herding group were initially reported missing.

‎Troops of Sector 8, OPEP, recovered the bodies of the three herders after receiving information about the attack.

‎There has been no official confirmation from the military or the police that the Dungus Kuru bus attack was carried out in retaliation for the Mangu killings, although security sources acknowledged that the deaths of the herders and the destruction of their cattle had heightened fears of reprisal attacks elsewhere in Plateau.

‎In a third, separate incident, a resident of Anguwan Mai Jirgi in Dirdep, Mangu Local Government Area, identified as Salisu Ibrahim, also known as Kawu, was attacked at about 10pm and severely beaten, sustaining a leg injury.

‎The attack has renewed calls from residents for stronger security presence and faster response in vulnerable communities across Mangu.

‎Reacting to the weekend violence, the Plateau State Government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said it received with grave concern reports of the fresh attacks in Mangu on Saturday and the incident at Dungus Kuru, Jos South, on Sunday, which resulted in loss of lives and injuries. The statement said the incidents were deeply disturbing, particularly as the state government, working with security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders, had continued to strengthen peace and security architecture through sustained dialogue, intelligence sharing and community engagement.

‎The government appealed to citizens, especially residents of affected communities, to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to help prevent attacks and apprehend perpetrators, urging them to resist reprisal attacks that could further escalate violence and undermine ongoing peace-building efforts.

‎The statement said the administration of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang was committed to protecting lives and property as part of its vision of rebuilding trust and creating an environment where citizens could live, farm, travel, invest and pursue their livelihoods without fear. The government commiserated with families of those who lost their lives, wished the injured a speedy recovery, and assured affected communities it would continue working to secure the state.

‎Addressing troops during his visit, the COAS, according to a statement by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, directed personnel of 3 Division and OPEP to sustain pressure on criminal groups and support efforts to deepen peace and stability in Plateau State and neighbouring areas.

‎He inspected the ongoing construction of the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Control Station, a facility the Army said would improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacity and give commanders more timely intelligence for decision-making once completed.

‎The General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander OPEP, Maj.-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, briefed the COAS on current operations and consultations with stakeholders aimed at preventing violence and protecting residents, the statement said.

‎Lt.-Gen. Shaibu commended the troops for their courage and professionalism, urging them to remain alert and disciplined while strengthening cooperation with other security agencies, traditional rulers and community leaders. He said military action must go alongside dialogue and reconciliation to prevent criminal actors from reversing security gains already recorded, and directed troops to respond firmly to threats while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens. He also called on residents to continue giving troops and other security agencies prompt and reliable information, describing lasting peace in Plateau as a shared responsibility.

‎Despite the sustained military presence in the state, including the COAS’s visit itself, the attacks on the bus and in Dirdep occurred within the same 24-hour window as the operational tour, underscoring the scale of the security challenge still confronting troops on the ground.

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