At least 52 people have been killed and nearly 2,000 displaced after gunmen attacked six villages in Bokkos district in Nigeria’s northern Plateau state, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The latest wave of violence, which unfolded over several days, is the deadliest in the region since more than 100 people were killed in Bokkos in December 2023, Reuters reported.
NEMA said 22 people were injured and hospitalized, while over 1,820 residents have been forced from their homes. Three displacement camps have been set up.
“Gunmen carried out brutal assaults, resulting in numerous fatalities and extensive property damage,” NEMA said in a statement late Sunday, adding that the security situation remains tense.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered security forces to track down those responsible, promising they would face "severe punishment."
Plateau, part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, is home to a mix of ethnic and religious communities. The region has long been plagued by violence between herders—mostly Muslim—and farmers, who are largely Christian. While often framed as ethno-religious conflict, competition over land and the effects of climate change, including shrinking grazing areas, have also contributed to the unrest.
