From Dan Amasingha, Minna

A fresh wave of coordinated attacks by armed groups has left at least eight people dead, scores abducted, and several communities destroyed across Niger and Plateau states, deepening fears over worsening insecurity in the regions.

In Niger State, no fewer than five persons were reportedly killed when over 160 heavily armed terrorists invaded the Baga community in Shiroro Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday.

The attackers, said to have arrived in large numbers, unleashed terror on the agrarian settlement, shooting sporadically and deploying explosives that set houses ablaze.

Eyewitness accounts described a scene of widespread destruction, with the entire community engulfed in flames and residents fleeing in panic.

Many villagers remain unaccounted for, with an unspecified number believed to have been abducted during the attack.

Local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers were overwhelmed by superior firepower, leaving at least eight of them seriously injured and hospitalised.

Sources indicated that the same group had earlier rustled cattle from nearby Nada village on Monday before diverting into Baga, where they carried out the deadly assault.

In a related development within Shiroro LGA, bandits struck Bagna, Lanta, and Tunga communities in Erena Ward, killing three people and injuring several others. The attack, which began mid-morning on Tuesday, reportedly lasted for hours as the assailants operated unchallenged.

Residents said many fled to Erena town, considered relatively safer, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The exact casualty figure remains uncertain as tension persists in the affected areas.

State authorities acknowledged the attacks, with the Commissioner for Homeland Security confirming that security agencies had been alerted and were responding to the situation.

Meanwhile, in Plateau State, gunmen ambushed and killed a 29-year-old university student, Badung Sunday Alamba, in Dum Village, Riyom Local Government Area. The victim, a 300-level student, was reportedly attacked late Monday night alongside another resident who narrowly escaped.

Community leaders condemned the killing, describing it as a calculated assault on innocent civilians, and called for urgent action to apprehend those responsible.

The latest incidents underscore a growing humanitarian and security crisis, particularly in Niger State’s Shiroro axis, which has witnessed repeated attacks, mass displacement, and cattle rustling in recent years.

Residents across the affected communities have renewed calls for urgent intervention by both federal and state governments to halt the escalating violence and restore security.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Amnesty International has condemned the massacre of at least ten persons in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area, Benue State, seeing the atrocity as part of Nigerian authorities’ persistent failures to safeguard civilians.

The Easter celebration on Sunday took a tragic turn when gunmen attacked the community, murdering residents, wounding scores, and burning homes and shops, while relatives continue to search for missing people.

In a statement on Monday via its official handle, the organisation said, “Gunmen invaded the village on Sunday while Easter celebrations were ongoing, leaving dozens of people severely injured.

”

It added that “apart from killing people, the gunmen also set many homes and shops on fire,” stressing that the situation reflects a broader pattern of insecurity in the state.

The group further criticised the government’s response, stating, “The Nigerian authorities have failed the people of Benue State again and again,” and noted that “frequent attacks by gunmen have deprived thousands of people of their rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, freedom of movement and access to livelihoods.”

It added that more than 500,000 people have been displaced in the state, many living in camps with limited access to water, sanitation, food, and healthcare.

The attack in Mbalom is part of a wider wave of violence that disrupted Easter celebrations across northern Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Masev Progressive Assembly (MPA) has described the killings of innocent people in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government of Benue state as barbaric and called on security agencies to intensify efforts in protecting human lives .

The MPA said it will not accept situations where innocent people are senselessly hacked to death by Fulani herdsmen without resistance from relevant authorities including the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force.

In a strongly worded statement by President Polycarp Tersoo Aande, the association expressed shock that the attackers willfully terminated innocent lives as it pleased them.

Marauding herdsmen attacked the Mbalom community in Gwer-East killing scores of innocent people on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the association: “Received with profound grief, deep pain, and righteous indignation the disturbing news of the brutal invasion of Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area, where gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia unleashed a wave of violence that led to the killing of scores of innocent and defenseless citizens.

“This barbaric and inhuman attack against peaceful villagers is utterly condemnable and stands as a tragic reminder of the grave security challenges confronting communities across Benue State.

“The sanctity of human life is the cornerstone of every civilized society, and the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Mbalom represents a grievous assault on humanity and a direct threat to peace, stability, and coexistence.”

The statement continued, “On behalf of the leadership and members of the MPA, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in this senseless carnage. We equally commiserate with the entire people of Gwer East Local Government Area and the government and people of Benue State over this tragic and painful loss.

“No words can adequately capture the sorrow of families whose fathers, mothers, children, and relatives have been cut down in such a cruel and tragic manner. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this devastating tragedy.

“While we mourn with the victims, we must also speak with courage and clarity. The continued massacre of innocent citizens in rural communities must not be normalized or tolerated under any circumstance. “The security and welfare of the people remain the primary purpose of the government.

“Accordingly, the MPA calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Government of Benue State, and all security agencies including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to immediately intensify security operations in Gwer East Local Government Area and other vulnerable communities across Benue State.

“We strongly urge the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly apprehended, thoroughly investigated, and brought to justice.

“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. Anything short of this will only embolden those who continue to perpetrate violence against innocent citizens.

“Furthermore, there is an urgent need for a sustained and proactive security architecture capable of preventing future attacks and guaranteeing the safety of rural communities who continue to bear the brunt of these repeated acts of violence.

“At this difficult moment, we call on the good people of Benue State to remain calm, united, and vigilant while cooperating with security agencies in their efforts to restore peace and order.

“We pray that the Almighty God will grant eternal rest to the souls of those who lost their lives in this tragic attack and grant comfort and strength to their grieving families.

“The blood of the innocent cries out for justice.”

By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has summoned Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to Abuja for high-level consultations following the deadly attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, as authorities move to stabilise the situation and prevent further violence.

The development came as the Plateau State Government announced a relaxation of the curfew earlier imposed on Jos North Local Government Area, citing improved security conditions after days of tension.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that the President had already convened a meeting with top security and intelligence chiefs to assess the crisis and chart a path towards lasting peace.

He said security agencies responded swiftly to the attack, with troops under Operation Enduring Peace deployed to cordon off affected areas, secure access routes, and launch search-and-clearance operations aimed at apprehending the perpetrators.

According to Idris, the actions taken so far helped contain the situation and prevent further escalation, adding that ongoing intelligence-led missions and reinforced patrols form part of a broader federal strategy to stabilise Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.

“The Federal Government has directed all security agencies to ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice. There will be no safe haven for criminal elements,” he said, while urging citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

As part of efforts to restore normalcy, the state government, through Commissioner for Information Joyce Ramnap, announced that the 48-hour curfew imposed after the attack has been relaxed.

Effective April 1, residents will now be allowed to move and conduct lawful activities between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. The adjustment, authorities said, followed the relative calm recorded in the area after the violence, which reportedly left at least 28 people dead.

Ramnap commended residents for their cooperation and urged continued vigilance as security agencies sustain monitoring and stabilisation efforts.

Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the killings, describing them as “barbaric” and symptomatic of a deeper security failure in the country.

In a strongly worded reaction, Atiku warned that the persistent attacks reflect a troubling descent into lawlessness, stressing that “outrage without action” is no longer sufficient.

He called for decisive political will to confront and eliminate the menace, insisting that the continued loss of innocent lives must not become normalised.

While casualty figures vary, with some reports citing 12 deaths in parts of the affected communities, authorities maintain that investigations are ongoing as security operations intensify.

The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to working with the Plateau State Government and other stakeholders to ensure justice for victims and achieve lasting peace in the region.