30 Aug 2018 | 06:32 PM UTC
Nigeria: Suspected herdsmen kill eight in Plateau state August 28-29 /update 1
Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill at least eight people in Barkin Ladi local government area (Plateau state) August 28-29; additional attacks possible in the near-term
Event
Suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked homes and churches in Barkin Ladi local government area (Plateau state) on the evening of Tuesday, August 28 (local time), into the morning of Wednesday, August 29, killing at least eight people and wounding three others. The herdsmen also burned some 95 houses and stole hundreds of cattle before fleeing from advancing security forces. Similar attacks are possible in Plateau state in the near-term.
Context
Incidents of herdsmen-related violence frequently take place in Barkin Ladi local government area. The attacks, although not regularly reported in the media, have persisted despite recent military operations and a curfew. According to local sources, the violence and tensions, if not checked, could spread to nearby local government areas such as Riyom, Bokkos, and those around the city of Jos (i.e. Jos North, Jos South, and Jos East).
Intercommunal clashes are common in Nigeria. Central Nigeria has become the scene of almost daily clashes between farmers and largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has 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
Individuals in Plateau state 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 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.
