In the last week of April 2026, at least eight Christians were killed and ten people were injured in a series of coordinated attacks in Plateau State, central Nigeria
The incidents took place over two days, April 18 and 19, in rural areas of the local governments of Bassa, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom.
The attacks were attributed to armed Fulani militias and left entire communities in panic, with residents fleeing their homes and farms being abandoned.
The attacks occurred in different villages.
In Kpasho, in the Kwall district (Bassa), around 8 pm on Saturday (April 18), four young men traveling by motorcycle were ambushed and shot.
One died at the scene and another died later in the hospital; two were injured.
The following night, Sunday (April 19), around 10 pm, gunmen opened fire on residents in the Hurum Gashish NTV community in Barkin Ladi, killing four people and injuring five.
About an hour later, another attack in Shonong Bachi, Riyom, left two dead and three injured.
In Ansa, also in the Kwall district, two Christians were murdered on the 18th, and a mass burial was held for them the following day.
One detail that drew much attention was the proximity of one of the attacks to a Nigerian Army post.
In Ansa, the crime scene was only about 500 meters from a military post located behind the College of Accountancy in the Kwall district.
Despite the presence of soldiers, residents complained about the slow response and the lack of effective protection.
Many wonder why the attacks continue to happen so close to security forces.
Odoh Kwa Weyi, commander-in-chief of the Rigwe Joint Task Force (a local community security group), attended the mass burial and made a strong appeal for more protection.
He said the community faces constant terror from Fulani militias, with frequent attacks.
“Despite daily reports, there is little or no improvement in the Nigerian Army’s response,” he stated.
According to him, in some cases innocent people are arrested, while those responsible for the attacks and destruction of crops remain at large.
Odoh asked the government to increase the presence and speed of security forces and to authorize, within the law, the strengthening of security by the community itself.
“The Nigerian government must allow us to defend our land,” he declared.
The attacks also affected agriculture.
Many Christians, who depend on the farms for their livelihood, had their crops destroyed or abandoned out of fear.
This threatens the season’s harvest and the livelihood of many families.
Furthermore, four injured young people were taken to Enos Hospital in Miango and needed surgeries that their families could not afford.
Other local leaders reinforced the discontent.
Reverend Joshua Barri, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Irigwe chiefdom, reported that several villages are suffering forced displacement, such as Ancha, Rotsu, Jiri, and Ari-Ba’akwa.
Nanpet Dala, a volunteer with the International Committee on Nigeria, mentioned the tension between residents and security forces after the arrest of four young people, which generated protests and road blockades.
Mr.
Rwang Tenglong, of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, confirmed that the injured were receiving treatment in nearby health units.
At the time of reporting, the Plateau State Police had not released an official response regarding the cases.
The violence in the region is part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has affected Christian communities in central Nigeria for years, with frequent attacks on villages, destruction of property, and a feeling of abandonment by the authorities.
The case illustrates the difficulty many families face in living in peace.
Residents are asking not only for more soldiers, but for faster and more effective action, as well as support so that communities can legally protect themselves.
Meanwhile, the mourning continues: mothers weep for lost children, farms are left empty, and fear prevents normal daily life.
The hope is that the authorities will heed these appeals and take concrete steps to bring more security to these areas.
Published in 04/22/2026 23h27
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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