Armed men on motorcycles attacked two isolated villages in north-central Nigeria on Monday evening and killed around 40 people, according to residents. Local authorities have only confirmed 12 deaths.
According to Plateau State police, the criminals who attacked the villages of Zurak and Dakai were fleeing an operation launched by security forces in the Bangalala forest, where police say they "neutralized seven bandits" .
No group has claimed responsibility for this attack in this region of Nigeria, regularly marked by land, mining and intercommunity conflicts. This violence, which has shaken the region for years, is often linked to the fight for control of water and land between nomadic herders and rural farmers.
This region of Nigeria is also known for its significant reserves of tin, zinc and lead. Illegal mining activities fuel intercommunal tensions and violence.
These raids have so far left hundreds dead in the region. Arrests following such attacks are rare. In December, attackers killed at least 140 residents in an attack that targeted more than a dozen communities.
Informative
ReplyDelete