🗞️ Another massacre in Plateau State
While this newsletter usually covers a wide selection of National news, this edition breaks from that tradition. Today's edition primarily focuses on the tragic massacre that occurred in Plateau over the past week.
This edition hopes to shed light on the gravity of the events that have unfolded and provide some historical context.
Everything else is listed under “Other News”
Massacre in Central Nigeria
In the past week, armed groups suspected to be herdsmen killed over 200 people in a series of attacks across multiple communities in Plateau State.
These attacks spanned three days, occurring in 15 communities within Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas. Initially, the attackers claimed over 100 lives between the 23rd and 24th of December.
The attacks spanned 3 days in 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas. Initially, they killed over 100 people on the 23rd -24th of December. Subsequently, more attacks occurred in the following days.
The head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, Monday Kassah, spoke to the Agence France-Presse news agency and highlighted the 'well-coordinated' nature of the attacks. Reports indicate that the attackers had issued warnings to some residents days before the assaults.
Plateau State is among the states forming the ethnically and religiously diverse Middle Belt in Nigeria that continues to face violent conflicts. Similar attacks have occurred in other Middle Belt states like Benue, Adamawa, and Zamfara
The Government and communities have attempted to counter the attacks. In July this year, the Nigerian army chief launched a special operation that deployed military personnel to Plateau State to address these attacks.
Separately, in April, the recently elected Governor Caleb Mutfwang promised to curb this issue by training hunters in the state to form a vigilante organisation
Despite these promises and measures, the attacks persist.
In the past week, we’ve seen multiple videos of mass graves for entire families wiped out by the recent attacks.
Timeline of the attacks
Herder–farmers conflicts in Nigeria have been going on since before I was born (👀), but with an increase in population, climate issues shrinking the farming ground available, and the increase in religion-motivated conflicts, the attacks have gotten worse.
Since 2015, over 2,000 individuals have lost their lives in herder attacks and farmer-herder conflicts, with a notable proportion seemingly targeted at Christians in the Middle Belt. According to the Global Terrorism Index, before 2015, herder-farmer conflicts had racked up over 800 deaths.
This timeline illustrates numerous tragic events since:
In April 2018, herdsmen allegedly killed 19 people during an attack on the church, afterwards they burnt dozens of nearby homes
In January 2018, about 10 people died in an attack between herders and local farmers in Adamawa State
In May 2018 over 400 herdsmen attacked four villages in Adamawa State killing 15 people.
In June 2018, an attack from the night of the 22nd to the morning of the 23rd killed 21 villagers in the village of Dowaya, Adamawa state.
In the same month, multiple attacks in Plateau State led to the death of over 200 people and the displacement of 200 more. The casualties were reported to only consist of women and children.
In July 2018, a clash erupted between the Fulani settlers and the Yandang community in the Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State. About 73 people were killed and 50 villages were destroyed.
In October 2018, Fulani herdsmen killed at least 19 people in Bassa, Plateau State
On 16 December 2018, militants believed to be herdsmen attacked a village in Jema'a LGA in Kaduna State, killing 15 people and injuring at least 24 others, the attack occurred at a wedding ceremony.
On 11 February 2019, an attack on Ungwar Bardi, an Adara settlement in Kaduna by suspected Fulani gunmen killed 66 people. A counterattack by people from Adara targeted Fulani settlements in Kaduna killing at least 141 people with 65 missing. According to a governor at the time, Nasir el-Rufai, the motive was to destroy specific communities.
A group against the Kaduna attacks stated on 18 March 2019 that 130 people have been killed in a series of revenge attacks since the massacre announced by El-Rufai.
On January 26 and 27 2020, at least 32 people were murdered in two different attacks by Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State. and a pastor’s house and church building were burned down.
On April 12 2022, 23 were killed in an attack by herdsmen against the communities in Benue
On September 7 2023, Na’aman Danlami, a Catholic seminarian died in a fire believed to have been set by herdsmen in an attempt to kidnap a priest living in the rectory.
Government response to latest attacks
The Nigerian President took a while to address this attack in Plateau. And when he did, he chose Twitter as his medium.
On the 26th of December, the President put out a statement declaring his condemnation of the genocide, and publically instructing the military to investigate the killings. He also announced that he’s asked for immediate deployment of relief material to the surviving victims of the
The Governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang, said the Federal Government should be doing more work to manage the situation. I guess this wasn’t in the job description.
Other News
The nation’s correctional centres have 3,413 inmates on death row, according to Mr Abubakar Umar, spokesman of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) - Punch
NDLEA Kaduna State Command, says its operatives have arrested 103 suspects and seized 1,458.709Kg of illicit drugs in the state - The Cable
Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele has been released on bail from Kuje prison. He paid the N300milllion bail - Arise
Emefiele denied accusations of stealing money and committing fraud. He said media reports about him taking billions of naira from Nigeria and hiding it in foreign accounts are untrue and meant to harm his reputation. Emefiele stated that a private investigator named Jim Obazee, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is behind these false claims. He insisted on a fair investigation to clear his name and revealed that his lawyers are taking legal action against these allegations - Arise
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu Dies at 67 After Prolonged Illness - Arise
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