Palm Sunday Horror: Gunmen Massacre Residents in Jos Communities, as U.S. lawmaker warns Tinubu govt of ‘significant consequences’

By Reporter

Local residents have reported that at least 27 Christians were killed in yesterday March 29, 2026—Palm Sunday attack in Jos, Nigeria.

At least 27 villagers were killed on Sunday by rampaging terrorists who stormed the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

President of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association said 14 fatalities were immediately confirmed while 13 died later in the hospital.

But according to a Youth Leader, Comrade Samson Chiroma, at least 40 people have now been confirmed dead, with several others injured.

The attack happened in student-populated communities, according to a humanitarian worker.

Alex Barbir, who shared details in a video posted on his official social media platforms, stated that “10 Christians were killed on Palm Sunday.”

Yesterday’s incident reportedly occurred around Angwa Rukuba, Eto Baba, and nearby student residential areas. Residents described scenes of panic as gunmen opened fire in the affected communities.

A resident of Angwa Rukuba told newsmen that: “They are Boko Haram, not Fulani. We don’t know how many were killed, but many died.”

However, a separate account from local sources indicated that attackers, described as Fulani militia, arrived on motorcycles, fired sporadically at residents, and retreated toward nearby mountainous areas after the assault. Casualties from this account include multiple deaths and injuries, though exact figures remain unverified.

Witnesses also reported sporadic gunfire at Angwa Rukuba Junction, where several casualties were recorded. Parts of the area were said to be on fire yesterday.

Students living in Angwa Rukuba, Eto Baba, and the surrounding school environments have been advised by local sources to remain indoors and limit movement due to ongoing security concerns.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the incident or the identity of the attackers.

Angwa Rukuba is a densely populated area in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in north-central Nigeria. The city and surrounding communities have experienced repeated attacks in recent years involving armed groups, including insurgents and bandits, with disputes over land, religion, and ethnicity often cited in previous incidents.

Yesterday’s attack follows last year’s Palm Sunday attack that killed 54 people also in Plateau State.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter that commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of the holiest of Christian holiday weeks that culminates on Easter Sunday.

Meanwhile, a U.S. congressman Riley Moore has reacted to the deadly attack that left many dead in Anguwan Rukuba in Plateau, on Sunday, warning that sustained killing of Christians will have “significant consequences” on “Nigeria’s relationship with the United States”.

Mr Moore, who was part of a U.S. fact-finding delegation on alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, made this call in a post on X on Sunday.

“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that at least 10 Christians were martyred in the city of Jos. Radical Islamic terrorists opened fire on the Christians before hacking them to pieces with machetes.

“This is sickening and unacceptable, but it’s not surprising. This tragedy follows a pattern of radical Islamic terrorists massacring Christians on Holy Days.

“In fact, terrorists have attacked Christians in Nigeria on every single holy day in recent memory, except for last Christmas—when President Trump sent 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles to stop them,” Mr Moore said.

He added, “Abuja knows this pattern, and they must massively ramp up security for the Triduum and Easter.

“If they don’t take this threat seriously and mobilise to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, the blood of these martyrs will be on their hands, and there will be significant consequences for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.”