At least 160 people have been killed in a series of attacks on villages in central Nigeria, carried out by armed groups. The initial figure reported by the army was only 16 dead, but local government officials have now confirmed the higher toll. The attacks, which were described as “well-coordinated,” targeted more than 20 different communities, with houses being set on fire. Over 300 wounded individuals were transferred to hospitals in the affected region. The Red Cross reported 104 deaths in 18 villages in the Bokkos region, while another 50 people were reported dead in the Barkin Ladi area. The violence has been condemned, and security forces have been urged to take swift action. The attacks have spilled over from the Bokkos area into neighboring Barkin Ladi. Gunfire could still be heard in the region, which lies on the dividing line between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south. Amnesty International has criticized the government for its failure to address the frequent deadly attacks on rural communities in Plateau state. The region has been plagued by bandit militias, who operate from forest bases and engage in looting and kidnapping for ransom. Social tensions have also been exacerbated by competition for natural resources between nomadic herders and farmers, leading to further violence. In addition to this, a jihadist conflict has been ongoing in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. The President has pledged to attract more investment to address the country’s persistent security challenges.
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160 people have been killed in a series of attacks in central Nigeria.
