Gunmen have carried out a brutal attack on remote villages in Nigeria's Plateau state, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 villagers over a two-day period. This recent wave of violence has sparked calls for authorities to intervene and put an end to the long-standing conflict between nomadic cattle herders and farming communities in the region.
The attacks took place in the Mangu district of Plateau state, where armed men stormed the villages on Monday and Tuesday, indiscriminately firing on residents and setting houses ablaze, according to the Mwaghavul Development Association community association. The true scale of the attacks took time to emerge due to the difficulty in accessing the affected areas.
Survivors and community leaders have reported that more bodies were discovered on Thursday, with many others missing or seriously wounded. Amnesty International's Nigeria office has estimated a much higher death toll than the confirmed 30, adding to the growing concern and outrage surrounding the violence.
The inability of local authorities to effectively respond to the attacks has further fueled frustration among Nigerians. President Bola Tinubu, who is currently away on a private visit to France, has come under increasing pressure to address the ongoing security crisis in the country. Despite his campaign promises to prioritize the issue, observers argue that little progress has been made under his presidency.
In response to the recent attacks, Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mangu. Unfortunately, this measure has failed to halt the violence, as reports suggest that the gunmen returned to one of the villages, Kwahaslalek, and raised the casualty figure there to 35.
Local residents have attributed the attacks to herders from the Fulani tribe, who have been accused of carrying out similar mass killings in other parts of the country. The conflict over land and water resources between farmers and herders has exacerbated the sectarian divide between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation.
Furthermore, there have been accusations that security agencies have not provided adequate support to the affected communities. Lawrence Kyarshik, spokesman for the Mwaghavul Development Association, criticized military personnel for their alleged complacency and failure to fulfill their duty of protecting all citizens regardless of their tribe or religion.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed concern over the recurring attacks and the lack of transparency from Nigerian authorities. Anietie Ewang, a Nigerian researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted that the failure to provide a clear account of these incidents and to conduct thorough investigations has resulted in devastating consequences for communities across the country.
The recent violence in Plateau state serves as a distressing reminder of the urgent need for the Nigerian government to tackle the security crisis and work towards a peaceful resolution of the underlying conflicts. It is imperative that authorities take decisive action to protect vulnerable communities, bring those responsible to justice, and address the root causes of this enduring conflict. Only then can Nigeria truly achieve stability and security for all its citizens.
