Gunmen unleash terror in Nigeria’s Plateau state, leaving 50 dead. Calls for action against persistent violence between herders and farmers. Authorities urged to address security crisis.
Rampage in Plateau State: Gunmen Leave Trail of Death and Desolation
Abuja, Nigeria: A wave of terror has swept through remote villages in Nigeria’s north-central Plateau state as gunmen, in a gruesome display, killed at least 50 villagers over two days. This horrifying incident marks the second large-scale attack in less than a month in Plateau state, where the persistent violence between nomadic cattle herders and farming communities continues unabated.
The assailants, whose identity remains unknown as no group has claimed responsibility, unleashed a reign of terror in Plateau’s Mangu district on Monday and Tuesday. Residents were subjected to indiscriminate gunfire, and houses were set ablaze in a relentless assault. The Mwaghavul Development Association community association reported the attacks, and the delayed dissemination of information was attributed to the challenges in accessing the affected areas.
As the grim aftermath unfolded, more bodies were recovered on Thursday, with many still missing or suffering severe injuries, according to Mathias Sohotden, a community leader. Amnesty International’s Nigeria office has estimated a death toll significantly higher than the confirmed 30 deaths so far.
This latest spate of violence has incited widespread anger within Nigeria, with mounting pressure on the country’s leader, Bola Tinubu, who is currently in France on a private visit. Tinubu, elected president last year with a commitment to addressing Nigeria’s deadly security crisis, now faces scrutiny as observers argue that the situation has not improved under his government.
In response to the attacks, Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mangu on Tuesday. However, the curfew failed to quell the violence, with reports indicating that the gunmen returned and launched another assault on the village of Kwahaslalek, bringing the total casualty figure there to 35.
Local sources point fingers at herders from the Fulani tribe, a group previously accused of carrying out mass killings in the northwest and central regions. The longstanding conflict over land and water access has exacerbated the sectarian division between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.
Lawrence Kyarshik, spokesman for the Mwaghavul Development Association community group, disclosed that the affected communities had received warnings of an impending attack but did not receive assistance from security agencies. Such claims are unfortunately commonplace in conflict-hit Nigerian communities.
“The MDA (Mwaghavul Development Association) frowns at the activities of some of the military personnel who appear to be complacent in carrying out the constitutional duties they swore to protect all citizens of the country irrespective of tribe and religion,” Kyarshik said in a statement.
Nigerian authorities and security forces have a history of failing to provide a clear account of such attacks, coupled with a lack of investigations and justice for the victims, as highlighted by Anietie Ewang, a Nigerian researcher with Human Rights Watch. The recurring failure of authorities continues to result in mass casualties and the destruction of entire communities, perpetuating a cycle of violence and despair.
