August 19, 2026 | 05:50 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Local officials say at least 25 people were murdered on Monday night by armed men who stormed the village of Bin-Per, in the Mangu local government area of Nigeria's Plateau state.
Perpetrators reportedly moved from house to house, killing residents with machetes.
Women and children accounted for most of the victims.
Resident Muftwan Yamput told France's AFP news agency that he and his family "survived by a whisker."
"But," he added, "my neighbors were attacked. Two people killed in their house."
Cycle of reprisals in Nigeria attacks
Monday night's massacre followed the killing of two herders last week.
Those were in turn followed by a suspected reprisal targeting the nearby village of Maitimbe, where multiple houses were torched.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement, a local advocacy group, has accused authorities of failing to protect vulnerable communities.
"The recurring destruction of communities, killing of innocent citizens, burning of homes and destruction of farmlands cannot continue to be treated as ordinary incidents," said the group's spokesperson on Sunday while calling for a review of security in the area.
Matthew Kwarpo, a representative in the Plateau state assembly, called on authorities to, "deploy proactive measures in preventing or mitigating unnecessary attacks before they occur," especially in Mangu.
"The incident underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the underlying grievances and prevent further escalation of violence in the affected communities," said Kwarpo.
Amnesty says President Tinubu not fulfilling promise to 'enhance security'
The incidents of the last week are the continuation of years of spiraling violence between nomadic Muslim ethnic Fulani herders and mainly Christian farmers over access to increasingly scarce land and resources in central Nigeria's Middle Belt region.
Land grabbing over mineral and mining resources, political and economic tensions between locals and outsiders, and the influx of hardline Muslim and Christian preachers have all fueled divisions.
Plateau has also seen hundreds killed in urban riots between religious groups in recent years.
In May 2025, rights group Amnesty International (AI) estimated that at least 2,630 people had been killed in Plateau state alone in the two years since President Bola Tinubu had taken office on the promise of enhancing security.
The group said authorities had instead failed "to protect the rights to life, physical integrity, liberty and the security of tens of thousands of people across the country."
Read: Nigeria Condemns Deaths of 2 Nationals in S. Africa Protests
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Nigeria Condemns Deaths of 2 Nationals in S. Africa Protests
44 hari lalu
Nigeria on Sunday denounced the deaths of two of its nationals in South Africa, warning that foreign nationals are being "unduly targeted."
Nigeria: Abducted Former General Dies in Captivity
14 Juni 2026
In Nigeria, a former military general has reportedly died while being held captive, according to local media outlets.
Nigeria, Ghana Offer to Help Citizens Leave South Africa
7 Juni 2026
The governments of Nigeria and Ghana are offering to fly citizens home from South Africa after a spate of anti-migrant attacks.
Nigeria Moves to Repatriate 1,000 Citizens from South Africa
6 Juni 2026
The governments of Nigeria and Ghana are offering to fly citizens home from South Africa after a spate of anti-migrant attacks.
Nigeria Airstrike Kills 100 at Market, Amnesty Says
13 Mei 2026
Amnesty International is calling for an investigation in Nigeria, saying the strike was the latest deadly attack to kill civilians.
Nigeria Evacuating 130 Citizens from S. Africa After Attacks
5 Mei 2026
As reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa continue, Nigeria said it would repatriate its citizens who want to leave.
Nigeria Summons South Africa Envoy Over Xenophobic Incidents
4 Mei 2026
Nigeria joins other international voices warning against rising anti-migrant sentiment targeting Africans in South Africa.
Nigeria: Students Abducted Enroute to Uni Entrance Exams
17 April 2026
The governor did not specify the exact number of those kidnapped, but local media said it was 17. The incident comes amid a surge in violence.
US Lawmakers Find Nigeria 'Deadliest' Place for Christians
25 Februari 2026
US lawmakers released a report on alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria after President Trump designated it a "country of particular concern."
Deadly Attack in Nigeria Claims at Least 162 Lives
6 Februari 2026
At least 162 people were killed in one of the deadliest recent attacks in Kwara state, central-western Nigeria, a Red Cross official said Wednesday.
