‘Stop the Bloodshed!’: Jos Erupts in Protest Over Brutal Attacks

Residents of Jos, the capital of Plateau State, staged a protest on Monday in response to the rising wave of killings and kidnappings by gunmen across the state. The peaceful demonstration, led by Christian leaders including Polycarp Lubo, Chairman of the Plateau chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), began at Fwavwei Junction and caused significant gridlock, leaving many commuters stranded.

Protesters carried placards bearing messages such as “That they do not die in vain,” “We walk for peace,” “Stop the killings,” “Stop the bloodshed,” “Every life matters,” and “Let Plateau live.” The protest follows a spate of violent attacks in Plateau State, with over 100 people reportedly killed in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas in the past two weeks.

In response to the continued violence, a northern faction of CAN has called for justice and demanded an end to what they described as “senseless” killings. Yakubu Pam, who chairs the faction representing the 19 northern states, urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and local organizations to unite in breaking the cycle of violence that has plagued the region for decades.

President Bola Tinubu recently tasked Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang with addressing the longstanding communal issues tied to the unrest. The governor, on April 15, announced new security measures, including a ban on night grazing, restrictions on motorcycle use, and a prohibition on transporting cattle by vehicle after 7 p.m. Mutfwang described the killings as “coordinated acts of terror” aimed at displacing communities and stripping them of their ancestral lands.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has vowed that those responsible for the violence will soon face justice. He also expressed concern about the toll the unrest has taken on farming activities in the region.