Nigeria: Dozens killed in Plateau state attack

On Monday night, armed assailants attacked the village of Bin-Per in Nigeria's Plateau state, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people, according to local officials. The attackers systematically entered homes, using machetes to kill residents, primarily women and children. Muftwan Yamput, a resident of the area, reported narrowly escaping death himself and his family managed to survive the violence.

The attack came after the killing of two herders the previous week, which allegedly triggered a retaliatory attack on the nearby village of Maitimbe, where multiple houses were set ablaze.

The Mwaghavul Youth Movement, a local advocacy group, has criticized the government for its perceived inability to safeguard vulnerable communities. They emphasized that the ongoing destruction of homes, farmlands, and the killing of innocent citizens cannot be deemed routine incidents, and called for a thorough review of security measures in the region.

Matthew Kwarpo, a representative in the Plateau state assembly, urged authorities to take proactive steps in preventing or minimizing the occurrence of such attacks, particularly in the affected Mangu local government area.

The recent spate of violence between Muslim Fulani herders and mainly Christian farmers in central Nigeria's Middle Belt region continues a long-standing pattern of escalating tensions over land and resource scarcity. Factors such as land grabbing, political and economic tensions, and the presence of hardline religious preachers have exacerbated divisions, leading to violence in various forms, including urban riots and communal clashes.

In May 2025, Amnesty International estimated that at least 2,630 people had been killed in Plateau state alone over the past two years, despite President Bola Tinubu's campaign pledge to enhance security. The rights group highlighted the government's failure to protect citizens' rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, and security.