Fulani herdsmen kill 40 in ongoing land dispute

ABUJA, Nigeria—Attackers suspected of being Fulani herdsmen killed 40 people in weekend raids on several villages in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, a local advocacy group said yesterday. The group blamed security forces for failing to protect the communities from a string of attacks that began five months ago.

Solomon Musa, president of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union, said the attack on Godogodo town and other neighboring villages began on Saturday and lasted until Sunday afternoon. Musa said many of the victims were burned beyond recognition in fires that destroyed property across the community. Despite the local reports, the official death toll remained at 20 people.

“Virtually every house in Godogodo has been burnt, property worth hundreds of millions destroyed, while crops have been grazed by cattle and the rest destroyed by the invaders,” Musa said in a statement.

The attacks continued even though some of the villagers called for security forces to intervene, Musa said. The local government imposed a 24-hour curfew following the attacks. Barnabas Bala, the state’s deputy governor, called the attack “unjustifiable,” and assured the public the government would respond.

“Every effort is being made to restore peace to the area,” Bala said. “We strongly appeal for support as security agencies work round the clock to make the affected area safe.”

On Monday, some youths in the area started a riot in response to the attacks. The local government chairman, Bege Katuka, confirmed the rioters blocked the highway, vandalized vehicles, and attacked motorists.

Fulani herdsmen have increasingly become one of Nigeria’s most violent terror groups. Changing environmental conditions have forced the herdsmen to move in search of better grazing pastures, setting up conflicts with farming communities. In 2013, Fulani militants killed 63 people across the country. By 2014, the number of deaths rose to 1,229, and has been on the rise since then. The Global Terrorism Index currently lists Fulani herdsmen as the fourth most deadly group in the world.

Attacks on the Kaduna community began in May. Seven villages in the region have been completely deserted following the incidents. In some cases, the herdsmen took over the villages and began grazing their cattle on the surrounding farmland, Musa said. Despite months of attacks, the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union said the government has failed to provide emergency security or relief to the many displaced people.

“We have been abandoned, deserted, and neglected,” Musa said. “The government should tell us if it is ready to defend us, or we’ll defend ourselves.”