Unrest in Nigeria: How Rural Life and Farming are Being Disrupted

Muslim gunmen killed over 40 people in a Christian farming community in Nigeria, sparking outrage as the government struggles to contain escalating land conflicts tearing apart the nation’s north-central region.

Key Takeaways

At least 40 people, possibly as many as 54, were killed in an attack on the Christian farming Zike community in Plateau state.
The violence stems from escalating conflicts between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers over increasingly scarce land resources.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation, but critics point to government failure after 1,336 people were killed in Plateau state between December 2023 and February 2024.
Victims included children and elderly who were surprised in their homes during the late-night attack.
The conflict is exacerbated by climate change, religious tensions, and economic pressures, separate from Nigeria’s ongoing battle with Boko Haram.

Deadly Night Attack Claims Dozens of Lives

Armed Muslim gunmen staged a deadly midnight assault on Zikke village in Nigeria’s Plateau state, killing at least 40 people according to official government reports. Alternative counts from the Red Cross and Amnesty International place the death toll between 52 and 54 victims possibly higher. The attackers, reportedly from the Fulani tribe, targeted the Christian farming community during the night, when residents were asleep and unable to defend themselves or escape. Victims included children and the elderly, many caught completely unaware as the violence erupted around them.

Amnesty International condemns the massacre of at least 51 people in Zikke village, Plateau State, Nigeria

Gunmen razed homes, looted villages, and left a trail of devastation

‘Everything was destroyed in their path’ pic.twitter.com/RX5acieBBV

— RT (@RT_com) April 14, 2025

The attackers didn’t stop at killings. According to local resident Andy Yakubu, the gunmen also destroyed and looted homes throughout the Bassa area community, leaving survivors without shelter or possessions. The scale of destruction has led some locals to suggest the final death toll could exceed 50 as recovery efforts continue in the devastated region.

Government Response Under Scrutiny

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the attack and extended condolences to the victims and their families. However, his administration faces intense criticism for failing to prevent the continuing violence despite deploying additional security forces to the troubled region. The attack occurred despite security measures that were supposedly in place, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of government protection for vulnerable communities.

Amnesty International has been particularly vocal in condemning the government’s response. The human rights organization documented that 1,336 people were killed in Plateau state between December 2023 and February 2024 alone, indicating a catastrophic failure of security measures. Samuel Jugo, spokesperson for the Irigwe Development Association, reported that at least 75 Irigwe people have been killed since December 2024, describing the latest attack as “very provocative, vexing and undeserving.”

Deeper Roots of Conflict

The violence in Plateau state represents more than isolated criminal incidents. It stems from longstanding land disputes between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers, creating an explosive mix of resource competition and religious tension. The Fulani, traditionally nomadic herders, have been accused of mass killings in both the northwest and central regions of Nigeria as they compete with settled farmers for increasingly scarce land and water resources.

Climate change has intensified these conflicts by reducing viable grazing lands, forcing herders to move into areas traditionally used by farmers. Economic pressures from Nigeria’s struggling economy further exacerbate tensions as communities compete for diminishing resources. Unlike the Boko Haram insurgency that began in 2009 and affects Nigeria’s northern regions, these intercommunal conflicts represent a different security challenge requiring specialized local solutions rather than conventional military approaches.

Impact on Agriculture and Food Security

The persistent violence has severely disrupted agricultural activities in Nigeria’s fertile north-central region, often referred to as the country’s breadbasket. Farmers afraid of being attacked have abandoned fields, contributing to food insecurity and rising prices across the nation. The destruction of homes, barns, and farming equipment during raids leaves entire communities without the means to resume production even when violence temporarily subsides.

President Tinubu has called for peace, stating, “The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease.” However, critics argue that without addressing fundamental issues of resource management, climate adaptation, and effective security arrangements, such appeals are unlikely to produce lasting peace in a region where competition for land has become literally a matter of life and death.