Nigeria: Bandits attack village in Kaduna state May 29

Event

Suspected cattle rustlers attacked the village of Kurega in the Chikun Local Government Area (Kaduna state) on Tuesday, May 29. According to residents, the armed bandits entered the village around 14:00 (local time) and attempted to steal cows. The gunmen opened fire after villagers tried to stop them, killing at least eight people and wounding several others. State police officers have deployed to the area and are searching for the attackers.

Context

Ethnic and sectarian clashes are common in Nigeria. Central Nigeria and adjacent areas have become the scene of almost daily clashes between farmers and the largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources. 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.

Advice

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 Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, and Kano states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). It is also advisable to avoid nonessential travel to Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna states. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.