Nigeria: Deadly intercommunal clashes in central regions Jan. 30-31

Event

Unidentified armed men killed seven people in the Kadarko district of the Nasawara state on Wednesday, January 31. The attacks were likely carried out as reprisals for the killing of 73 cows the weekend before. Furthermore, in Benue state on January 30, farmers killed seven herders in the village of Gboko. An increased security presence has been deployed to the areas. Similar clashes are nevertheless likely in the short term.

Context

Intercommunal clashes are common in Nigeria, especially between nomadic and settled communities. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently reported that murder rates linked to ethnic violence in Nigeria are higher than those related to terrorism, also a major security concern in the country. According to the International Crisis Group, more that 2500 people were killed in such attacks in 2016, and more than a 100 have died so far in 2018.

Advice

Individuals in the central part of the country are advised to remain vigilant and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.