An American missionary, Alex Barbir, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over what he described as the government’s failure to address ongoing violence in Nigeria, following a deadly attack in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Barbir’s reaction was captured in a video circulating on social media, where he spoke from what appeared to be the scene of the Palm Sunday attack. He decried what he called the repeated killing of innocent Christians and questioned the federal government’s response to the crisis.
The attack reportedly occurred on Sunday evening when gunmen, said to be dressed in military uniforms, stormed the community and opened fire on residents. About 12 people were feared killed, while several others sustained injuries.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as sudden and brazen. A resident, Nyam Isaac, said the assailants arrived around 8 p.m. and began shooting indiscriminately in a busy market area.
“This is my area. Gunmen came around 8 p.m. to Anguwan Rukuba and shot randomly at people in a market setting. People said they were dressed in military camouflage. Many people were injured,” he said.
Another account shared on social media also confirmed that the attackers struck without warning, leaving residents in panic.
In his video message, Barbir condemned the killings and directly called out President Tinubu, accusing him of failing to protect citizens.
“In Rukuba, more than 10 innocent Christians were killed on Palm Sunday,” he said. “Where is the president while people are being slaughtered? The government cannot continue to ignore this violence.”
Reacting to the incident, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, said the killings highlight the need for urgent changes to Nigeria’s security structure.
In a post on X, Ejimakor argued that creating a secure environment for vulnerable communities is necessary to curb the recurring violence. He also called on international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to intervene.
Plateau State, particularly Jos and its environs, has experienced recurring violence over the years. The conflicts are often linked to a mix of ethnic, religious, and land-related disputes.
Although authorities have consistently rejected claims of targeted religious attacks, concerns continue to grow among residents and rights groups over the frequency and scale of the violence.
