Attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states between October 19 and 22 left two people dead, a third ambushed and six others abducted. The victims included members of Christian farming communities and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Local reporters identified the Plateau attackers as Fulani herdsmen, while a Kajuru community leader described the Kaduna attackers as Fulani terrorists.
The first attack occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19, in Pushit community, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State. Gunmen abducted a businessman who deals in fuel, cement and fertiliser.
As they fled with him, the headlight of a motorcycle ridden by an NSCDC deputy superintendent exposed their position. The gunmen shot and killed the officer near his residence. Local reporter Voice of Walshak identified him as Distu Garba Audu.
Community member Lawrence Tabitha said the businessman's trade made him a target. Tabitha also named Vodni, Sabon Gari and Nchiya among the communities in Pushit District that have been repeated targeted for violence.
"We are really worried about these repeated attacks in Pushit District," he said.
The Pushit attack occurred despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in Mangu and two other LGAs following repeated attacks.
Six days earlier, on October 13, Plateau State Commissioner of Police Ayodeji Faniyan addressed the Inspector-General of Police's conference in Abuja. He said Plateau State would be "too hot" for attackers to operate.
Two more ambushes followed in Plateau State. On October 21, attackers identified as Fulani herdsmen ambushed Ezra Godsave in Marit village, Barkin Ladi LGA, according to the Christian reporting group Persecuted Hope.
The group described the ambushes as part of a siege of Christian farming and trading communities, where residents risk being killed while traveling to their farms or markets.
On October 22, armed Fulani herdsmen ambushed and killed one person in Kwatas village, Bokkos LGA.
The Kwatas killing followed other attacks in Bokkos LGA this month. On October 4, Fulani herdsmen killed two Christians and injured three in Mangor village, area youth leader Bwefang Sunday told Christian Daily.
On the night of October 12, gunmen shot Da Jatau Yohanna Samkwar, the Mishkaham Bokkos, at his residence in Daffo. He died of his wounds in hospital. The Mwaghavul Traditional Council, Bokkos branch, identified the attackers as Fulani militias. Kidnappers had released his son the day before the attack.
Bulus Dabit, national president of the Mwaghavul Development Association, said, "We demand an immediate stoppage of the selective killing of our people."
Kefas Mallai, chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, said, "Almost every day, somebody is killed or something happens."
On October 21, the Coalition of Indigenous Youth Nationalities, Plateau State, held a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council in Abuja. The coalition comprises Afizere, Anaguta, Atakar, Atten, Bache, Berom, Gamai, Irigwe, Kunlere, Mushere, Mwaghavul, Ron, Pan, Tarok and other ethnic youth bodies.
Coalition spokesperson Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri said the group had documented at least 152 hamlets, villages and communities affected by attacks and occupation, as well as displacement.
The coalition described cattle grazing accompanied by attacks by armed militants as a strategy of war and forceful occupation.
The press conference was held in response to an October 5 petition filed on behalf of the Plateau chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) and the Fulbe Youth Development Association (FUYODA).
The petition accused the Department of State Services (DSS), the Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow of bias. The coalition credited their joint operations with the arrest of suspected leaders of armed groups and fewer attacks on communities.
It also called for an investigation into alleged collusion between some military personnel and armed groups.
The coalition alleged that sponsors of armed militants were raising ₦20 million to fund media campaigns, court cases and petitions against the security operations. It said Mobile Police officers had been killed in Dares and Kwi villages, in Bokkos and Riyom LGAs, about two weeks earlier.
In Kaduna State, attackers raided Mararaban Kajuru in Kufana Ward, Kajuru LGA, at about 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, and abducted five people. Leadership newspaper described the attackers as suspected bandits.
Alipiri Ado, chairman of the camp for internally displaced persons in Kajuru County, told TruthNigeria that Fulani terrorists had raided Mission Maraban Kajuru.
He identified the victims as Samuel Danladi, 30; Ashlee Dogo, 25; a one-month-old baby girl; Yakubu Ishaku, 76; and Rebecca Yakubu, 37.
A community security update confirming the abductions closed with a request for prayer: "Let's pray for their safe return in Jesus name."
At the time of Leadership's report, neither the Kaduna State Police Command nor the state Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs had commented on the abductions.
TruthNigeria reported that 18 people had been abducted and one killed in Kajuru in a single week. In an earlier report published in October, it had counted at least 29 people abducted in Kajuru since September 19, including two four-month-old babies.
Ado contrasted the state's response to Christian victims with its response to Muslim victims. "One Muslim family is kidnapped — Governor Uba Sani visits them with cameras and promises," he said.
On October 22, First Daily reported that eight of 11 residents abducted from Awon village, Kachia LGA, on April 20 had died in captivity.
The reported deaths included Joy Samuel, who died on August 28 after giving birth in the kidnappers' camp, her newborn, her 14-year-old daughter and her three-year-old daughter, Silvia.
A bandit leader identified as Yellow One Million reportedly confirmed the deaths to a woman who escaped. The kidnappers had demanded ₦300 million and 23 motorcycles. One captive escaped, and two remain in captivity.
In another attack earlier this month, on October 14, Magaji Simon Fedelis was clubbed and hacked to death while crossing the River Kaduna with his wife, Patricia, in Bondong District, Kaura LGA, Southern Kaduna. The couple were walking home from Ganawuri Market.
Patricia Magaji told TruthNigeria that four armed men, whom she identified as Fulani, blocked their path. After the killing, she said, the attackers told her they had come "to deal with Christians." His family has petitioned police, and no arrests have been announced.
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