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Governor Caleb Mutfwang has said both residents and security personnel were caught unawares during the recent deadly attack in Jos, describing the incident as unexpected after a prolonged period of relative peace.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Friday, the governor explained that the community had enjoyed about 10 months to one year of calm, making the assault largely unforeseen.
“As a matter of fact, the community was blindsided. The security personnel were also caught off guard because of the relative peace we have enjoyed… nobody envisaged this kind of thing,” he said.
Mutfwang noted that the attackers appeared to have studied residents’ behavioural patterns before striking. According to him, the assailants disguised their operation to resemble activities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which often conducts raids in nearby communities.
“People initially assumed it was an NDLEA operation and did not resist, but when they realised what was happening, a lot of damage had already been done,” he added.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, March 29, left at least 28 people dead, including students and staff of the University of Jos. Sporadic violence was also reported in surrounding areas, further escalating tensions in the state capital.
Despite the incident, the governor expressed optimism that it would not become a recurring situation, describing it as “unfortunate and worrisome,” particularly as it happened within the city centre.
In the aftermath, authorities reinforced security presence across affected areas, while residents continue to call for sustained intervention to stabilise the situation.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu visited Jos on Thursday to commiserate with victims and their families. During the visit, he pledged to end the cycle of violence and announced plans to install 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras across the city to boost intelligence gathering.
He also invited community leaders to Abuja for further dialogue aimed at addressing the crisis.
However, the decision to hold all engagements at the airport, rather than visiting affected communities or hospitals, drew criticism from residents and opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, who described the visit as a “choreographed spectacle.”
