PALM SUNDAY ATTACK: CLEEN FOUNDATION CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACK ON GARI YA WAYE COMMUNITY, CALLS FOR CALM, RESTRAINT AND JUSTICE.

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PALM SUNDAY ATTACK: CLEEN FOUNDATION CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACK ON GARI YA WAYE COMMUNITY, CALLS FOR CALM, RESTRAINT AND JUSTICE.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

30.03.26

Abuja


PALM SUNDAY ATTACK: CLEEN FOUNDATION CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACK ON GARI YA WAYE COMMUNITY, CALLS FOR CALM, RESTRAINT AND JUSTICE.

CLEEN Foundation strongly condemns the attack that took place on Sunday night in Gari Ya Waye community, Angwan Rukuba, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The incident, which occurred on Palm Sunday, left over 12 people confirmed dead and many others injured. Reports indicate that the attackers, said to have arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire on a group of youths, cutting lives short in a manner that has left families and the wider community in shock. Beyond the loss of life, this attack has deepened fear and uncertainty among residents who have, for years, lived with the weight of recurring violence. For many in this community, safety is no longer something they can take for granted. The aftermath has also seen angry youths take to the streets, blocking major roads in protest. While their grief and frustration are understandable, we urge residents to remain calm and avoid actions that may further escalate tensions or create openings for more violence.

In the wake of this tragedy, distressed youths have taken to the streets in protest, blocking major roads to express their anguish. While CLEEN Foundation recognizes the depth of this grief and the legitimacy of communal frustration, we urgently appeal to all residents to exercise restraint. Escalatory actions, however understandable, risk compounding the violence and creating further vulnerabilities.

While the Plateau State Government has imposed a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area in response to the incident, experience shows that curfews alone have not addressed the root causes of such violence. In some cases, they have disrupted daily life without delivering lasting security outcomes. There is a need to move beyond reactive measures and focus on strategies that address both immediate threats and underlying drivers of violence. CLEEN Foundation calls on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into this attack and to ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice. A clear and sustained manhunt is necessary to restore public confidence and signal that such acts will not go unanswered.

We also call for a more proactive security approach, one that prioritises intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and closer collaboration with communities. Local knowledge remains one of the most valuable tools in preventing violence, and it must be integrated into security planning. Strengthening community policing structures, improving response times, and ensuring accountability within security agencies are critical steps that cannot be overlooked. At the same time, there is a need for sustained engagement with community leaders, youth groups, and civil society to ease tensions and rebuild trust. Dialogue, conflict resolution mechanisms, and targeted support for affected communities should form part of a broader response.

This is a painful moment that demands clarity of purpose. Because the repetition of Palm Sunday violence is no longer a coincidence, it marks a clear failure of anticipation. We must move beyond policing by curfew to address the root causes of these killings. As we work to ensure these tragedies do not become a permanent feature of our national life, our hearts are with the families grieving and those still fighting for their lives in treatment.

Our Call to Action

CLEEN Foundation calls upon security agencies to:

  • Swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice – Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done in order to restore public confidence and deter future acts of violence.
  • Deploy adequate personnel to protect vulnerable communities – Such deployments should be intelligence-driven, rights-respecting, and sustained long enough to reassure residents and prevent further escalation.
  • Engage community stakeholders to prevent retaliatory violence – we strongly encourage security agencies to actively engage with community leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and youth groups to de-escalate tensions and prevent retaliatory violence

We further urge the Plateau State Government to prioritize comprehensive and sustainable peacebuilding initiatives that go beyond immediate security responses. This includes addressing the root causes of cyclical violence, such as resource-based conflicts, identity tensions, weak governance structures, and socioeconomic inequalities. The government should invest in inclusive dialogue processes, support reconciliation efforts, and implement long-term development programs that foster social cohesion, equitable resource distribution, and justice for affected communities.

Signed:

Peter Maduoma

Executive Director