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PALM SUNDAY MASSACRE IN NORTH NIGERIA: A TRAGEDY AMID HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS

THE ATTACK

On the evening of March 29, 2026—Palm Sunday—gunmen launched coordinated attacks on communities in Nigeria's Plateau and Kaduna states, killing at least 43 people and shattering the solemn beginning of Holy Week for Christian worshippers across the region.

In Ungwan Rukuba, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state, armed men entered the area around 7:50 p.m. and opened fire on residents. Initial reports indicated at least 30 fatalities, though Archbishop Matthew Ishaya Audu of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos cautioned that verified figures remained uncertain, with some sources citing approximately 11 confirmed deaths in the immediate area. Eyewitnesses described a coordinated assault, with attackers arriving on motorcycles, firing sporadically, and retreating toward mountainous terrain.

Simultaneously, in Kaduna state's Kagarko Local Government Area, gunmen attacked Kahir village in the early morning hours, killing at least 13 people who were attending a bachelor's party. Victims ranged in age from 21 to 31.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE

Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang condemned the violence as "barbaric and unprovoked," imposing a 48-hour curfew across Jos North from March 29 through April 1 to prevent further escalation. During a visit to affected families, the governor pledged that perpetrators "will not go unpunished" and committed the government to covering medical expenses for survivors and ensuring dignified burials for victims.

Archbishop Audu urged caution against misinformation circulating on social media, noting that the curfew had complicated verification efforts. While acknowledging reports that victims were Christians attacked during Palm Sunday observances, he refrained from attributing religious motives pending thorough investigation.

A DISTURBING PATTERN

The attacks fit an alarming pattern of violence targeting communities in Plateau state during Easter periods. In 2025, at least 54 Christians were killed in Zikke village following Palm Sunday celebrations. Previous years saw similar incidents during Holy Week, including attacks in 2024, 2022, 2021, and 2020 that claimed numerous lives and displaced residents.

ONGOING CONCERNS

As security agencies investigate, tensions remain high. Archbishop Audu has called for prayer and unity, reminding the faithful that "the cross is only a way to the Resurrection." Yet with conflicting accounts of the attackers' identities—ranging from Boko Haram to armed Fulani militia—the path to accountability and lasting peace remains uncertain.

The Palm Sunday massacre serves as a grim reminder that even sacred occasions offer no respite from Nigeria's persistent security crisis.
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