Sectarian Violence Erupts in Central Nigeria

A recent spate of attacks in Nigeria's central Plateau state has left at least 30 people dead and numerous others injured, primarily Christians. The assailants, believed to be Muslims, targeted villages including Kwahaslalek, Kinat, and Mairana, situated on the borders of Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas.

Joseph Gwankat, the head of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), reported that the victims sought refuge in the house of a community leader following earlier unrest in Mangu town.

 Tragically, the attackers surrounded the house, resulting in the loss of lives of those seeking shelter.
Survivors provided harrowing accounts of indiscriminate gunfire by the Muslim attackers, sparing no one, including women and children. The assailants further exacerbated the devastation by setting fire to houses and property, intensifying the impact on the predominantly Christian communities.

The MDA attributed the attack to Muslim herders and raised concerns about the lack of intervention by federal government-deployed troops, present in the area since the Christmas attacks. The 'Middle Belt' region has been a focal point for escalating tensions and violence between Muslim herders and Christian farmers, resulting in the loss of hundreds of Christian lives in recent years.

The Middle Belt, with a predominantly Christian population of 65%, witnessed another surge in violence during the recent attacks. This unsettling pattern follows a Christmas Day assault that claimed the lives of at least 140 people. In response to the heightened tensions, a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on January 23, underscoring the urgent need for measures to address the underlying sectarian conflicts and protect the lives of the Christian communities caught in the crossfire.