Amnesty International has documented 310 violent attacks by herders on farming communities across Nigeria between January 5, 2016, and October 5, 2018, with the most frequent and brutal incidents occurring in Benue, Southern Kaduna, and Plateau States.
A particularly deadly episode occurred between October 8 and 18, 2017, when suspected Fulani gunmen attacked six villages in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State—Nkiedowro, Hukke, Kpachudu, Nzhweruvo, Taagbe, and Rotsul—resulting in the deaths of 50 people.
In response to the escalating violence, the Plateau State government imposed a curfew in Bassa on October 13. However, the security measures proved ineffective. On October 16, just three days after the curfew was enforced, gunmen launched another attack at around 6:00 p.m. in Nkiedowro village.
During the assault, 27 villagers—who had sought refuge in a classroom within a school that also served as a base for Operation Safe Haven—were killed. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assailants blocked all escape routes before opening fire inside the classroom.
The attack raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of security interventions and the safety of displaced civilians in conflict-prone areas.
