At least six commuters were killed and two others injured when suspected gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Kuru T-junction, near Science School, in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026, less than 24 hours after three young Fulani herders were killed and 36 cattle shot dead in Alohom community, Sabon Gari District of Mangu LGA.
Military sources told Zagazola Makama that troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, responded to a distress call over the attack on commuters travelling in a commercial bus from the Farin Lamba axis.
The troops arrived to find six passengers dead at the scene. The victims comprised five men and a woman, while two other passengers sustained gunshot injuries.
The injured victims were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, while troops commenced an operation to track the attackers, who had fled before the soldiers arrived.
No contact was established with the assailants, while security operations continued in the area to prevent further attacks and establish the identities of those responsible.
The incident has heightened concerns over a possible cycle of retaliatory violence across parts of Plateau State, particularly because of its proximity in time to the killing of the three young Fulani herders in Mangu.
The deceased herders were identified by members of the Fulbe community as Garzali Shaibu, 18; Bashiru Yakubu, 14; and Salim Abubakar, 15. Two other members of the herding group were initially reported missing.
Military sources said troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, were deployed to Alohom after receiving reports of the attack and subsequently recovered the bodies of the three herders.
Eyewitnesses from the Fulani community attributed the attack to suspected Mwaghavul militia, while 36 cattle were reportedly killed and another 12 wounded.
There is, however, no official confirmation from the military or police that the Dungus Kuru attack was carried out in direct retaliation for the Mangu killings.
Another attack in Mangu
The violence continued on Monday, September 14, when suspected gunmen attacked Vodni community in Mangu LGA, killing two people and injuring five children.
The attack occurred at about 1:40 p.m., prompting troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, deployed in the area to respond to a distress call.
According to military sources, the attackers fled after sighting the troops. The soldiers, however, heard the cries of children from a nearby house and moved to the location.
They found two victims dead inside the house and five children suffering from gunshot wounds.
The injured children were evacuated to Mangu General Hospital for treatment.
The latest incidents have added to a string of attacks, killings, cattle rustling, kidnapping attempts and other security breaches recorded across Mangu, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring areas in recent days.
Escalating cycle of violence
The recent escalation became particularly pronounced on September 9, when suspected Berom militia allegedly attacked Fulani herders along the Jong–Nyeriwei Road and around Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi LGA.
Military sources said troops responded to sporadic gunfire along the Jong–Nyeriwei Road at about 1:09 p.m. and found the body of a 19-year-old Fulani herder, Ishaku Yakubu.
Seven cattle were also reportedly killed, while several others were allegedly rustled by the attackers.
Later that afternoon, at about 2:25 p.m., troops responded to another attack at Marit Junction, Dorowa Babuje, where a 23-year-old man identified as Andata was found shot dead.
In a separate incident, troops recovered the body of a missing farmer, Geoffrey Gumut, in Mangu. The circumstances surrounding his death remained under investigation, although residents reportedly suspected herders.
The incidents, occurring within hours of each other, immediately raised fears of reprisal attacks.
Security forces also recorded several other incidents during the period, including an alleged kidnapping attempt at the residence of the late Gen. Bagudos in Jebbu Bassa, Bassa LGA, on September 9.
The suspected kidnappers reportedly fled after security personnel arrived, while one suspect was subsequently arrested.
Earlier that day, at about 4:30 p.m., troops reportedly engaged suspected kidnappers around Angwan Boka in Riyom LGA. One suspected kidnapper, identified as a local resident, was killed during the encounter, while others escaped.
Troops recovered a locally fabricated rifle and continued clearance operations in the area.
On September 10, suspected cattle rustlers allegedly attacked a herd belonging to Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar at Langei village in Barkin Ladi. Troops launched a pursuit but did not make contact with the fleeing suspects.
Later that afternoon, a 26-year-old man, Tokare Davou, was found shot dead around a mining site at Jong village in Dorowa Babuje District. Local criminals were suspected in the incident, according to security sources.
Troops recovered his body and launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.
At about 8:02 p.m. the same day, a vigilante member, Peter Gyang, was killed at Kafi Abu village in Barkin Ladi.
Military sources said Gyang was on sentry duty with three other vigilantes when suspected Fulani bandits attacked. The other three vigilantes reportedly fled, while troops subsequently launched a manhunt and intensified patrols.
In another incident on the Jos–Makarfi highway in Riyom, suspected kidnappers reportedly blocked a commercial bus and opened fire on passengers.
Three passengers sustained injuries and were rescued by troops, while two others were reportedly abducted before the arrival of the soldiers. Local criminals were suspected to be responsible.
Meanwhile, troops searching for kidnapped victims around Dogon Ruwa in Wase LGA reportedly encountered suspected terrorists.
During the ensuing firefight, a kidnapped woman, Hauwa Mohammed, was rescued after the attackers withdrew. Other victims who escaped during the encounter were also reported to have returned home.
The sequence of incidents has created an increasingly volatile security environment in Plateau, where attacks involving farmers, herders, vigilantes, commuters and other civilians are frequently interpreted along ethnic and communal lines.
The danger is that individual criminal or communal attacks can quickly trigger retaliatory violence, widening the geographical spread of insecurity and placing additional pressure on security agencies.
The killings in Alohom, the subsequent attack on commuters in Dungus Kuru and the latest violence in Vodni have therefore raised fresh concerns over the possibility of a broader cycle of reprisal attacks unless security agencies move swiftly to identify perpetrators, protect vulnerable communities and prevent further escalation.
