ABUJA: At least 16 people were killed in an attack on the village of Mushu in Plateau State, northcentral Nigeria around midnight on Saturday. Captain Oya James of the Nigerian army confirmed the casualties, highlighting the existing challenges in the region marked by clashes between herders and farmers.
Plateau State, situated on the fault line between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south, has grappled with ethnic and religious tensions for years. The latest attack, whose motive remains unclear, underscores the fragile coexistence in a region where tit-for-tat violence often escalates into deadly confrontations.
Ethnic Clashes in Nigeria
Security personnel have been deployed to prevent further clashes, a common occurrence in areas where herders, primarily Muslims, and farmers, predominantly Christians, engage in reciprocal violence that can escalate into organized attacks by well-armed gangs.
State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the attack as “barbaric, brutal, and uncalled for,” expressing determination to bring the perpetrators to justice. His spokesman, Gyang Bere, assured reporters that proactive measures would be taken to address the ongoing threat to innocent citizens.
