A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in parts of the central Nigerian city of Jos, after gunmen opened fire at an open-air bar, leading to deadly revenge attacks, local reports say.
The police have confirmed that 26 people were killed. It is not clear how many died in the initial attack and how many during the retaliation.
Announcing the curfew, Plateau state governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang said an investigation had been opened and those responsible for the killings would be brought to justice.
The state has long been considered one of the most volatile parts of Nigeria.
Paul Mancha, chairperson of the youth council in Plateau state, suggested that the true number of casualties could be even higher.
“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our people,” he told Reuters news agency. “We have counted scores of people who are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital receiving treatment.”
In a statement announcing the curfew, the Plateau state governor condemned the killings as “barbaric and unprovoked,” and said security agencies had been directed to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice.
Local residents said threats had been posted on social media before the attack.
The curfew, which began at midnight local time, is due to remain in force until 1 April. Residents have been ordered to stay indoors as security personnel intensify patrols and maintain a visible presence across the affected areas.
Security forces were deployed swiftly after the shooting, with troops and other personnel moving to secure the area and restore calm.
Nigeria’s main Christian body has described the attack as “horrific”. In a statement, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the attackers moved into the area in large numbers, wearing uniforms resembling those of Nigeria’s security forces, before opening fire on civilians.
“Innocent Nigerians… men, women and children were hunted and killed in cold blood,” the statement said, adding that the killings were “not just tragic, they are unacceptable”.
The president of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the incident highlighted deepening insecurity in parts of the country, even on days regarded as sacred by religious communities.
“A nation cannot keep bleeding like this and expect to move forward. We owe the dead justice. We owe the living protection,” he said.
Plateau state lies in central Nigeria, where there is often violence between different communities, especially mainly Muslim herders and largely Christian farmers over access to land and water points.
Nigeria faces multiple security challenges across different regions – from an Islamist insurgency in the north-east to banditry and kidnappings in the north-west and central areas.
Security watchers say these overlapping pressures have stretched security resources and complicated response efforts.
Sunday’s attack highlights the persistent fragility of local security arrangements and the ease with which violence can disrupt daily life.
While authorities insist the situation is under control, the imposition of a curfew underscores the seriousness of the threat and the urgency of preventing further escalation.
