NewsNearly 50 dead in brutal central Nigeria village attacks

Nearly 50 dead in brutal central Nigeria village attacks

Tragic news from Nigeria. According to local authorities and the Red Cross, nearly 50 people have been killed in a series of brutal attacks on villages in the central part of the country. Most of the victims are women and children.

Bloody attack on village in Nigeria
Bloody attack on village in Nigeria
Images source: © Licensor | Giles Clarke
Aneta Polak

In the central part of Nigeria, a series of attacks resulted in nearly 50 people losing their lives. According to local authorities and the Red Cross, most of the victims are women and children.

According to information provided by the authorities of Plateau State, the violent attacks took place on Wednesday, and local medical services have recovered the bodies of 48 people. There is, as yet, no information on who committed these crimes or what the motive was.

Ethnic and religious tensions in Nigeria

Plateau State, where the tragedy occurred, lies on the border between the Muslim north and the Christian south of Nigeria. This region is particularly vulnerable to ethnic and religious violence. The situation is further exacerbated by land conflicts between Fulani Muslim herders and Christian farmers.

An additional source of tension is the increasing demand for arable land and the shrinking grazing area, partly due to illegal mining activities. It is worth noting that central Nigeria has long been a hotspot for the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

In December 2023, one of the most tragic events in the region occurred when around 200 people were murdered in a village mainly inhabited by Christians. Wednesday's attacks are another example of how tense the situation is in this part of the country.

As reported in January, a brutal attack took place in Borno State (northeast Nigeria). Armed attackers from the jihadist Boko Haram organisation murdered over 40 farmers and fishermen.

Related content