Senator Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang, representing Plateau North Senatorial District, on Saturday paid a condolence visit to communities in Jos North Local Government Area following the recent Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba.
During the visit, the senator met with traditional rulers, women stakeholders, and victims receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), expressing grief over the incident and calling for unity among residents.
Speaking at the palace of the Ujah Anaguta, Pozoh Johnson Jauro Magaji, Senator Mwadkon described the attack as a painful and unfortunate development, noting that no leader takes comfort in the loss of lives within their domain. He urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing the need for wisdom, unity, and reliance on God in addressing the crisis.
“I am not happy about what happened. Nobody is,” he said. “Let us use wisdom and seek God’s guidance so that we can live in harmony again as brothers and sisters, regardless of tribe or religion.”
Responding, the Ujah Anaguta appreciated the senator’s visit and described it as a step toward strengthening collaboration between political leaders and traditional institutions. He revealed that at least 27 persons had been buried following the attack and stressed the need for unity among Plateau residents.
“This unfortunate event should bring us together,” he said. “We must see ourselves as brothers and sisters. When we fight ourselves, the real enemies benefit.”
The senator also visited the Gwom Rwei of Kabong, Emmanuel Nyam Pam Pogo, where he condemned the attack as unacceptable and vowed to continue raising the issue at the National Assembly until lasting solutions are found.
He noted that the incident occurred during a period of celebration, making it even more disturbing, and assured affected communities of his commitment to supporting victims and their families.
In his remarks, the Gwom Rwei described the attack as devastating, noting that Angwan Rukuba is a diverse community inhabited by people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds. He called for improved security measures and urged leaders at all levels to act swiftly to prevent further violence.
The senator further visited the Adagwom Jos Izere Chiefdom, led by Ada Emmanuel, where he reiterated his call for unity and stressed the importance of legislative efforts, including the proposed creation of state police, to tackle insecurity.
“It is unacceptable for people to live in fear,” he said. “We are working at the National Assembly to ensure that mechanisms like state policing become a reality.”
The traditional ruler commended the senator for the visit, describing it as timely and reassuring, while expressing hope that future engagements would be under more positive circumstances.
As part of the visit, Senator Mwadkon also met with women stakeholders from Jos North and Jos South, who advocated for greater inclusion of women at the federal level and called for targeted support for widows and children affected by the attack.
At the hospital, the senator interacted with injured victims and expressed relief at reports of their gradual recovery, describing the scenes as “heart-touching” and “deeply troubling.”
At the end of the visit, he said the attack caught residents unaware and disrupted what should have been a peaceful celebration. He added that he and other Plateau lawmakers had already taken the matter to the Senate through a motion.
On the issue of security, the senator reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, noting that it would enable communities to respond more effectively to threats.
“Every state needs the capacity to secure itself,” he said, adding that efforts were ongoing at the National Assembly to make state policing a reality.
He, however, urged citizens to remain vigilant and take lawful steps to protect themselves while awaiting broader security reforms.
The senator concluded by assuring the affected communities of continued legislative support and intervention to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
