Gunmen Kill 9, Injure Others in Jos Church Crossover Night Attack
The transition into the New Year was met with blood and tears in Plateau State as a brutal Jos Church Crossover Night Attack claimed the lives of at least nine residents. The assault, carried out by suspected armed militants, targeted the Bum community in the Chugwi, Vwang District of Jos South Local Government Area during the late hours of Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
What was intended to be a solemn moment of prayer and celebration turned into a scene of carnage when gunmen invaded the village around 11:00 pm, opening fire on worshippers and residents who had gathered to usher in 2026.
According to local eyewitnesses and community leaders, the attackers exploited the sounds of celebration and fireworks to mask their initial approach. The Secretary to the District Head of Vwang, Iliya Chung, confirmed the grim tally, noting that the victims included men, women, and children. In addition to the fatal shootings, the invaders reportedly set several houses ablaze, forcing many families to flee into the surrounding bushes in the middle of the night.
As of Thursday morning, nine bodies had been recovered, though search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with fears that the death toll could rise as more people remain missing or critically injured in various hospitals.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, condemned the attack, describing it as a calculated act of terror against innocent civilians. Tengwong revealed that there had been prior security alerts indicating that certain communities in Jos South were being targeted for festive period raids, lamenting that these warnings were allegedly not met with sufficient proactive measures by security agencies. The atmosphere in Vwang remains tense, as the survivors grapple with the trauma of losing loved ones during a time meant for peace and hope.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has expressed deep sadness over the renewed violence, calling on security forces to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. While the Plateau State Police Command has acknowledged the report and deployed tactical units to restore order, the recurring nature of these “crossover” attacks has sparked fresh outrage among civil society groups.
This tragedy mirrors a similar wave of violence from the previous year, highlighting a persistent security vacuum in the rural corridors of the North Central region. For the people of Chugwi, the dawn of 2026 is not marked by resolutions, but by a desperate plea for protection and the somber task of burying their dead.
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