In central Nigeria, there has been a tragic incident where gunmen have taken the lives of at least 10 people.
This region has been a hotbed for conflicts between different communities, according to the military.
The army has taken steps to enhance security in Plateau State because, over the past three months, there have been around 300 deaths resulting from clashes between mainly Muslim nomadic herders and Christian farming communities.
In this recent attack on Sunday, gunmen targeted the Kulben area in Plateau’s Mangu district, which has been at the center of this ongoing violence, as confirmed by army spokesperson Captain Oya James in a statement to AFP.
“At least 10 people have been confirmed killed,” James said.
“When our men arrived the attackers had left.”
The violence in Plateau State stems from disputes over land and resources for grazing and farming.
However, this conflict often escalates as armed groups engage in retaliatory attacks on villages, and communities organize self-defense groups.
“We heard the sound of gunshots, everyone ran for their lives, but some were killed, including local vigilantes,” local resident Peter Langae said
Members of the vigilante group revealed that six of their members lost their lives while trying to pursue the attackers.
Additionally, four individuals from the community lost their lives in this tragic incident.
Since these attacks began in May, over 80,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to the violence.
This intercommunal violence in central Nigeria adds to the list of challenges facing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who took office in May with a promise to prioritize addressing insecurity.
In addition to this ongoing conflict, Nigeria’s armed forces are dealing with a long-running jihadist insurgency in the northeast and criminal gangs in the northwest responsible for mass kidnappings and looting raids.
