Plateau Crisis: Women Block Mass Burial Of 28 Angwan Rukuba Victims, Demand Release Of Arrested Youths

Tension gripped the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Tuesday as women staged a protest that disrupted the mass burial of victims of the recent Palm Sunday attack.

The protest, led by women wielding leaves and chanting songs, forced the suspension of a planned mass burial for at least 28 people killed in the last attack. The demonstrators barricaded the entrance of the church where the funeral service was to be held, insisting that the ceremony would not proceed until security agencies release some youths arrested in connection with the incident.

“We will not allow the burial to take place until our sons are released,” one of the protesters, Rhoda Aliyu, declared.

Echoing the sentiment, another protester, Mathew Bulus, said, “Those arrested by soldiers are innocent. They are not the ones who carried out the killings. They should go after the perpetrators and leave our youths alone, and we will not let them be detained unfairly.”

The stand-off escalated as at least seven corpses of the victims were brought to the venue, only to be met by locked gates and defiant protesters, who were later joined by some youths in the community.

A community source said the demonstrators were demanding the unconditional release of three youths allegedly arrested by military authorities during ongoing investigations into the killings.

The violence that triggered the protest occurred on Palm Sunday night when suspected bandits attacked Angwan Rukuba and the nearby Gari Ya Waye area. The assailants reportedly stormed the densely populated communities around 8 p.m., opening fire indiscriminately, killing over 28 residents and leaving several others injured.

Following the attack, President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State last week, commiserated with victims’ families and directed security agencies to track down and arrest those responsible. He also ordered the deployment of over 5,000 Artificial Intelligence-enabled CCTV cameras across the state to strengthen round-the-clock surveillance.

Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, had earlier condemned the killings, describing them as “a heinous and well-orchestrated act aimed at destabilising the state.” He assured residents that those behind the attack would be brought to justice and emphasized that his administration had taken “swift and decisive actions,” including convening a Security Council meeting and reinforcing security in vulnerable areas.

Mutfwang also commended residents for showing restraint in the aftermath of the attack and urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to support efforts to restore peace.