A grieving Nigerian mother has recounted the heartbreaking loss of her son, identified as Promise, who was killed in a recent attack in Plateau State, describing how his burial coincides with what should have been a day of celebration, her birthday.
In an emotional account shared online, the woman said she held her son until his final moments, a memory that continues to haunt her as she prepares to lay him to rest.
“I don’t have a dad, I don’t have a mom, I don’t have a husband. I abandoned everything in this world for my kids. I raised my children to adulthood,” she said.
Recounting their last conversations, she added: “Promise told me, ‘Mummy, your birthday is coming soon. I’ll buy you a gift. I’ll surprise you.’ But this surprise has wounded me, because tomorrow is my birthday and that’s when Promise will be buried.”
The bereaved mother said she has been unable to eat since the incident, overwhelmed by grief and the absence of her son, whom she described as a constant source of care and companionship.
“My food is in the fridge. Since Sunday, I’ve not eaten. Promise would usually wake up in the morning and call me ‘baby,’ ‘Get up and eat your food.’ Baby hasn’t brought me food since Sunday. I can’t eat anything. I’m still waiting for the baby,” she said.
In a moment of anguish, she called for justice, saying: “I’m grateful to you. Baby, don’t sleep—revenge for me. Revenge for me, baby. You gave me a present I’d never forget.”
On March 29, 2026, armed attackers carried out a nighttime raid on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, killing between 26 and 30 people.
The gunmen, some reportedly in uniform, stormed the area between about 7:30 p.m. and 7:50 p.m., opening fire on residents at an open-air bar and surrounding homes, leaving several others injured.
The assault caused panic, forcing residents to flee, while authorities imposed a 48-hour curfew. Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, as security forces increased deployment to the area.
Officials have described the incident as a pre-planned attack amid ongoing violence in the region.
The killing of the young man, identified as Promise and its traumatic effect on his mother, has caused widespread emotional reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing sympathy and outrage over the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death.
One user, reacting to a video of the grieving mother, wrote: “When I saw the video of her holding on to her son, tears flowed freely from my eyes. This pain is too much. May the good Lord heal her and avenge the dead.”
Another said, “Videos like this make me doubt if karma even exists. A person shouldn’t go through this kind of pain.”
Nigeria has in recent years witnessed recurring incidents of violence, including attacks by armed groups, bandits, and other criminal elements in various parts of the country. These incidents have left many families bereaved, and communities traumatised.
Security experts have repeatedly called for strengthened intelligence gathering, improved community policing, and faster emergency response mechanisms to curb such tragedies.
