An American missionary, Alex Barbir, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the continued killings of Christians in Nigeria, following a deadly attack in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In a video circulating on social media, Barbir, speaking from what appeared to be near the scene of the attack, condemned the “persistent targeting of innocent Christians,” questioning the government’s response to the recurring violence.
“This is Rukuba. Over 10 innocent Christians were murdered on Palm Sunday,”
“Where are you as your people are slaughtered in the night? Sitting in Aso Rock, you are doing absolutely nothing. When will it stop? When will you hear the cries of Nigerians? You can no longer deny genocide.”
According to reports, the attack, which occurred on Sunday evening, involved suspected assailants reportedly dressed in military uniforms. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen stormed the community around 8 pm, opening fire in a busy market area, leaving at least 12 dead and several others injured.
Nyam Isaac, a resident, described the chaos: “Gunmen came around 8 pm to Angwa Rukuba and started shooting randomly. People saw them in soldier khaki. Many were injured.” Another account shared on social media by a user identified as ABUJAGIST corroborated the reports of indiscriminate attacks.
Reacting to Barbir’s video, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, emphasized that the killings highlight the urgent need for restructuring Nigeria’s security framework.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ejimakor wrote, “The Palm Sunday massacre of Christians in Jos underscores the urgency of creating a ‘sovereign safe zone’ for Christians in Nigeria. This is the only permanent and sensible solution to the unbridled terror that has claimed thousands of lives.”
He further called on international leaders, including former US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to release Nnamdi Kanu and address the security crisis affecting Christians in Nigeria.
Jos and other parts of Plateau State have long experienced repeated outbreaks of violence linked to land disputes, ethnic tensions, and religious differences. While authorities have denied claims of targeted religious attacks, human rights groups and local communities continue to raise concerns about the frequency and scale of such killings.