At least 53 killed in latest spate of attacks in Nigeria

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation on Monday after dozens of people were killed in an attack in Plateau state.

The Red Cross said as many as 52 people were killed in the latest eruption of violence in a region known for intercommunal conflict and deadly land disputes, while Tinubu only said more than 40 individuals had perished. Amnesty International reported that 54 people had lost their lives in the incident.

Reports stated that Muslim gunmen attacked a Christian farming community in the central northern state.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of at least 54 people between 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. last night [Sunday] when gunmen invaded Zikke village of Bassa LGA, Plateau State,” Amnesty said.

“Along the way, the gunmen also razed villages and looted homes, destroying everything on their path. While those killed are being prepared for mass burial, more dead bodies are being discovered in the bush.”

The rights watchdog blamed “inexcusable security lapses” for the high death toll.

Amnesty questions Tinubu’s methods

While Tinubu ordered an investigation into the “crisis” as the number killed in under two weeks in the central state topped 100, Amnesty brought into question the security measures brought in by the president, saying the violence proves “whatever security measures [have been] implemented are not working.”

“Issuing bland statements condemning these horrific attacks is not enough, and genuine commitment to protecting the people must be demonstrated by ensuring adequate security of lives and property, as well as ensuring justice for the victims. Consistent failure of the authorities to bring the actual suspected perpetrators to justice is emboldening impunity,” Amnesty added.

The Sunday night onslaught on the villages of Zike and Kimakpa, in the Bassa area of Plateau, came after armed men earlier this month hit villages in the Bokkos area of the same state.

“The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease,” President Tinubu said in comments shared on the Nigeria Presidency’s X account.

“I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts,” he continued.

“We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue.”

What’s behind the attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau state?

Land disputes, usually between Muslim Fulani herders and mostly Christian farmers, frequently descend into deadly violence, especially in rural areas where law enforcement is rarely implemented.

As Africa’s most populous country has grown, so has the amount of land that farmers use, while grazing routes have suffered from climate change.

Land grabbing amid economic pressures between locals and those considered outsiders, as well as friction among hardline Muslim and Christian preachers, have heightened tensions in recent decades.

Amnesty International says that from December 2023 to February 2024 1,336 people were killed in Plateau state.