No fewer than two local vigilante members were killed on Wednesday night after suspected gunmen launched a large-scale attack on Rangarasa village in the Rantya community of Jos South Local Government Area.
Residents said the attackers, believed to number more than 100, stormed the area on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately while attempting to force their way into the community through the Rangarasa axis.
A resident, John Mancha, who witnessed the incident, said the assailants arrived in large numbers, with three to four armed men riding on each motorcycle.
“Yesterday night in Rantya, we did not sleep. We saw the attackers,” Mancha said.
“They came on motorcycles. On each motorcycle, there were three or four men carrying rifles. They were shooting and trying to enter Rantya community from the Rangarasa axis bordering the area.”
According to him, local vigilante members quickly mobilised to defend the community and prevent the attackers from advancing further into residential areas.
However, despite their efforts, the vigilantes were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the gunmen.
“Some local vigilantes mobilised themselves and actually did their best to resist the invaders. Unfortunately, two of them were gunned down before the attackers fled,” he said.
The victims were identified simply as Joshua and Emmanuel.
Residents described the deaths as a devastating loss to the community.
Joshua was said to have left behind four children, while Emmanuel’s wife had recently undergone surgery to deliver a baby.
Mancha expressed concern over what he described as a delayed security response, noting that security personnel only arrived in the community on Thursday morning after the attack had ended.
“It was only this morning that we saw some policemen and a soldier who visited the community and left after we showed them the corpses of the victims,” he added.
The incident has heightened fears among residents, many of whom say they are increasingly worried about their safety amid recurring attacks in parts of Plateau State.
Mancha called on the government and security agencies to take urgent measures to protect lives and property in the area.
“The situation is pathetic. Residents are living in fear and government should act quickly to prevent further attacks,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, condemned the attack and expressed concern over the growing spread of insecurity in communities surrounding Jos.
Mwantiri warned that violent attacks are increasingly occurring in settlements located close to the city centre, raising fresh concerns about security within the wider Jos metropolis.
He urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and strengthen operations across vulnerable communities to prevent further loss of lives and property.
The latest attack adds to ongoing security challenges confronting several communities in Plateau State, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger security measures and more proactive responses to threats posed by armed groups.
