In a heart-wrenching display of grief and raw maternal anguish, Mrs. Favour Ayuba, a bereaved mother in Jos, Plateau State, has placed a cutlass in the coffin of her only son, late Promise Gideon Ayuba, urging him to avenge his untimely death.
The incident occurred during the burial of the young man, who was among at least 24 people killed by suspected terrorists in a brutal attack on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area. Promise was shot by the assailants’ bullets in the deadly assault that has once again spotlighted the persistent insecurity plaguing parts of Plateau State.
In a viral video that has since circulated widely on social media, Mrs. Ayuba, speaking emotionally in Hausa and fighting back tears, addressed her son’s lifeless body directly. She brought out a cutlass carefully wrapped in a white cloth, which she had concealed under her garment, and placed it inside the coffin as a symbolic act of defiance and desperation.
“My baby, I carried you in my womb for nine months; you suckled at my breast,” she said. “Baby, I trust you revenge for me, revenge for me. Please, wherever they are, follow them and avenge your death. If you want me to forget, baby, avenge your death.”
She further revealed her profound personal loss, stating that she had not eaten since the day of the attack. “Today is your birthday. I am grateful to God that today is your birthday, baby. You don’t like seeing me in tears, and I will not weep for you,” she added. Referencing the biblical figure Gideon who went to war and returned victorious she reminded her son of the meaning behind his name: “I named you Promise Gideon Ayuba… I have a gift for you, baby. I trust you.”
The mother’s actions and words have sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria, with many describing the moment as a poignant symbol of a mother’s unbearable pain amid repeated cycles of violence in the region. While some view it as an expression of deep sorrow rather than a call to literal action, the video underscores the human cost of insecurity that continues to claim innocent lives in Plateau State.
Authorities have been urged to intensify efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to affected communities.