Some residents of Plateau State have blamed Governor Caleb Muftwang for the renewed tension in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of the state, where scores were killed and others injured last Sunday. 

Following the attack, Mr Muftwang ordered a 48-hour curfew in the affected local government to restore calm and allow security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The governor, however, relaxed the curfew on Tuesday, effective April 1, 2026, between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, urging residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding.

However, tensions seemed to grip the community on Wednesday when hoodlums reportedly attacked many motorists and passersby in different parts of the city of Jos, throwing residents into panic.

Footages circulating online showed residents running for safety as most affected areas included the University of Jos axis, Bauchi Road, Farin Gada, Tina Junction and others.

A resident, Isaac Janet, who spoke to the Peoples Gazette, said residents were forced to close shops as hoodlums took over the community and started attacking a church.

“The situation is worse now. Everyone expected that the relaxation of the curfew will douse tension and allow security operatives continue their investigation into the incident. But things have gone out of control. I have left the shop as hoodlums have started attacking church and shops,” Ms Janet said.

Some residents blamed the renewed tensions in the affected community on Mr Muftwang’s relaxation of the curfew, dismissing the timing as “paltry.”

One of them, Koss’an Williams, said, “Forty-eight hours is a paltry window far too insufficient to soothe the deep-seated tension that now grips this city. You cannot apply a bandage to a wound that requires surgery and then declare the patient stable. Tension is high.”

Accusing the governor of irresponsibility for imposing a 48-hour curfew in a combustible situation, Ms Williams added that a curfew was meant to de-escalate tensions. 

She added, “In a place as volatile as Jos, the proactive measure the government should take first after an attack within the metropolis is to impose a curfew until concerns are addressed. Sadly, when the curfew was imposed, some of you here got riled up, for what? You want a horrendous tit for tat? In fact, this government is irresponsible for imposing a 48-hour curfew in a situation that’s this combustible.”

Another resident, Qosim Suleiman, said it was wrong for the governor to relax the curfew without deploying sufficient security operatives to the affected area.

“Muftwang visited Angwan Rukuba in an armoured car, then proceeded to relax the curfew without a single deployment of security agents to ensure peace,” Mr Suleiman stated. “So, no one in your cabinet thought it imperative to have security agents deployed to communities as you relaxed the curfew?”

The state police spokesperson, SP Alfred Alabo, could not be immediately reached for comment on ongoing efforts to restore peace in the area on Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, the federal government, in a press conference held by information minister, Mohammad Idris, in Abuja on Tuesday, insisted that the security situation in the state was “under control.”