Tensions escalated in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, on Monday morning as residents, led by prominent Christian leaders, took to the streets to protest the continued killings of indigenous people by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants.
The demonstrations, which began at Fwavwei Junction, were spearheaded by the Plateau State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Polycarp Lubo. The protest brought traffic to a standstill, leaving many commuters stranded for hours.
The outcry follows a recent surge in deadly attacks that have left more than 100 people dead in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas within just two weeks.
The protesters, holding placards with messages like “Stop the Killings,” “Our Lives Matter,” and “Enough is Enough,” marched toward the Rayfield Government House, demanding urgent government intervention.
“We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. That’s why we have come out again to protest these happenings,” said Gyang Dalyop, one of the protesters who joined the demonstration in solidarity with the affected communities.
Another protester, Hannatu Philip, voiced concern over the government’s perceived silence: “We cannot continue like this. The government must act now before things spiral completely out of control.”
Eyewitnesses reported a heavy presence of security personnel monitoring the protest, which remained largely peaceful despite the growing frustration among demonstrators.
This latest protest adds to the growing pressure on state and federal authorities to address the worsening security situation in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt, where repeated attacks on farming communities have raised fears of ethnic and religious cleansing.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the Plateau State Government regarding the protest or the protesters' demands.