Traders flee shops amid fresh panic in Jos

A pervasive sense of unease gripped Jos, the capital of Plateau State, on Wednesday as a sudden wave of panic forced traders to abandon their businesses and shutter shops across the city. While the precise catalyst for the alarm remained elusive, the atmosphere in the city grew increasingly volatile, leaving residents and shop owners in a state of high alert.

The chaos unfolded within the Terminus market area, where witnesses described people running in different directions, triggering fear among business owners and residents already on edge after a recent violent attack in the city.

“I was attending to customers when I saw people running. Nobody could explain what was happening, but I had to lock up immediately and run for my life,” Alex Amechi, a shop owner in Terminus market, told BusinessDay.

Harris Ugo, another trader in the market, gave a similar account. “There was confusion everywhere. Once I saw others running, I didn’t wait to ask questions. I just secured my shop and left,” he said.

Read also: Plateau killings call for decisive action, Speaker tells FG

A city on the edge

This latest wave of panic follows the horrific massacre in the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos North on Palm Sunday. That assault, carried out by gunmen, claimed the lives of at least 28 individuals and left numerous others with varying degrees of injury. The brutal nature of that attack has left the metropolitan area hyper-sensitive to rumours and the persistent threat of reprisal violence.

In the wake of the Palm Sunday killings, the Plateau State Government had initially enforced a 48-hour curfew. This was recently adjusted to a window between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., effective April 1, in a bid to restore a semblance of normalcy. However, the renewed instability suggests that the state’s fragile peace is under significant
strain.

Efforts to reach Alfred Alabo, Police Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Command, were unsuccessful as his phone line could not be reached.

However, in a telephone chat with BusinessDay, Polycarp Oteh, spokesperson of Operation  Enduring Peace OPEP, sought to allay public fears, insisting that the situation was under control.

Oteh stated that there was no cause for alarm, noting that security agencies were actively monitoring developments on the ground.

He disclosed that the military had been strategically positioned and remained on standby, ready to intervene swiftly if the situation deteriorated.

According to him, these proactive measures were part of broader efforts to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the area.

“There is no cause for alarm at this time; the military is already on standby at strategic locations and will move in immediately if the situation escalates,” Polycarp Oteh told BusinessDay, emphasising that security agencies are fully prepared to maintain peace and order.

UniJos orders immediate evacuation of students

To avert a total breakdown of law and order, the University of Jos ordered students to vacate their hostels following escalating security concerns in Jos on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The directive comes after reports of chaotic scenes in areas surrounding the institution, raising fears over student safety.

The decision, approved by Tanko Ishaya, the vice chancellor, was formally communicated in a statement signed by Emmanuel Madugu, Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, for the Registrar and obtained by BusinessDay on Wednesday in Jos.

The statement confirmed that the evacuation is being supported by Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau state governor, who has provided transportation services to facilitate the process, including during curfew hours.

According to the university management, “students residing within Jos and its environs are scheduled to evacuate from 3 p.m. on Wednesday, while those whose families live outside Jos will depart from 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026”.

The management emphasised that the arrangement is structured to ensure orderliness and safety.

The university also assured that adequate security measures have been deployed to safeguard the hostels and the institution at large during the evacuation period.

Management noted that it is actively exploring additional steps to maintain a secure learning environment.

Students and parents have been advised to stay informed through official communication channels, while enquiry lines have been made available for further clarification.

The institution reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of its community amid the ongoing security challenges.

Read also: Police arrest fake soldier, four others over Jos Palm Sunday attack

Police arrest fake soldier, four others over Sunday attack

A glimmer of hope showed late Wednesday evening when the Nigeria Police, Plateau State command, confirmed the arrest of a fake soldier and four other suspects in connection with the recent Palm Sunday attack that unsettled residents.

The police said the operation is a significant step toward uncovering those behind the violence.

Confirming the development in a telephone chat with BusinessDay on Wednesday in Jos, Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, said investigations are still ongoing, and more details would be made available about the arrest in due course.

“You can report that the police have arrested a fake soldier along with four others. They were picked up around the Angwan Rukuba area, where the attack took place, and the arrests are connected to ongoing investigations about the killings,” Alabo said.

He added that the identities of the suspects have not yet been disclosed, noting that such information would only be released upon the conclusion of investigations to avoid compromising the process.