Gunmen attacked a university community in Nigeria’s central Plateau state on Sunday night, killing at least 13 people, residents and local officials said, the latest violence in a region long plagued by deadly farmer-herder conflicts.
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Violence in central Nigeria, also known as Middle Belt, is often painted as ethno-religious between mainly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. But many experts and politicians say climate change and expanding agriculture are creating competition for land, leading to conflict, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
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Residents said the gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba district and shot at people indiscriminately.
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The Plateau state government said the gunmen were unknown and imposed a 48-hour curfew in the district. The University of Jos suspended examinations due to start on Monday.
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“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our people. We have counted scores of people who are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital receiving treatment,” said Paul Mancha, a resident and chairperson of the youth council in Plateau.
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U.S. President Donald Trump last November redesignated Nigeria “a country of particular concern” saying Christians were being targeted and authorities were failing to protect them, which the Nigerian government denies.
