Nigeria: Dozens of Fulani herders killed in central attack involving local militias
Edited By: Sekou Kagné
Dozens of Fulani herders were killed in an attack in central Nigeria on Thursday, according to local sources cited by AFP. The incident reportedly involved a Nigerian militia operating alongside the army, as well as armed individuals coming from neighboring Benin.
The attack occurred in Niger State, an area that has faced repeated security incidents linked to armed groups and intercommunal tensions. The victims were reportedly accused of providing information to Ansaru, a jihadist group active in parts of northern and central Nigeria.
Ansaru emerged as a breakaway faction from Boko Haram in 2021 and is considered to have links with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Local sources indicated that the killings took place in a context of heightened suspicion toward certain communities in areas affected by insurgent activity. However, the exact number of victims has not been officially confirmed, and authorities have not yet issued a detailed statement on the incident.
The attack highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, where the presence of armed groups, community militias, and cross-border dynamics continues to complicate efforts to stabilize affected regions.
