Deadly assault on mosque leaves at least 13 fatalities in northwestern Nigeria
Subtitle: Deadly Violence, Displacement, and the Struggle for Resources
The farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria's northwest and north-central regions continues to escalate, causing widespread violence, displacement, and loss of life. In these regions, armed herder groups have been implicated in systematic assaults, particularly targeting Christian farming communities.
Recent attacks have been devastating. In April and June of 2025, deadly assaults by herders claimed the lives of dozens of farmers, with over 160 villagers killed in a single farming village where crops were also destroyed. These incidents are part of a recurring pattern of night raids, mass killings, village burnings, and displacement across the North-Central states.
The conflict is deeply rooted in resource competition over fertile land and water resources, exacerbated by desertification. Religious differences, misinformation on social media, and criminal opportunism also play significant roles. The violence has severe implications for Nigeria’s food security and agricultural sector.
In Unguwan Mantau, a mosque was attacked, and armed men are known to hide among plantations during the rainy season. The exact cause of the mosque attack remains unclear, but it is believed to be a retaliation for actions by residents of Unguwan Mantau.
The Nigerian federal government has taken steps to address the crisis, creating a Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 and involving high-level officials in efforts to mediate and reform the sector. However, infrastructure challenges hinder rapid security responses, allowing armed groups to continue their attacks with relative impunity.
The insurgency by Boko Haram, a fundamentalist Islamic group of Nigerian origin, is another significant challenge in the northeast of Nigeria. Over two million people have been displaced due to the insurgency, and around 35,000 civilians have been killed. Armed groups exploit the limited security presence in Nigeria's mineral-rich regions, attacking villages and major roads.
Recent events include the escape of inmates from a prison due to a jihadist attack and the arrest of two jihadists who aided in the prison attack by Nigerian authorities. The United Nations reports these numbers of civilian deaths and displacements due to the insurgency by Boko Haram.
The farmer-herder conflict and the insurgency by Boko Haram are not isolated incidents but part of a complex mix of resource competition, ethnic and religious tensions, and armed group violence with devastating humanitarian impacts. The crisis in Nigeria's northwest and north-central regions remains a serious concern, requiring urgent attention and action from the government and international community.
[1] "Nigeria's Farmer-Herder Conflict: A Complex Crisis with Devastating Humanitarian Impacts." International Crisis Group. 2023.
[2] "Nigeria's Efforts to Reduce Farmer-Herder Clashes." BBC News. 2024.
[3] "Violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt: Ethnic and Religious Tensions Fuel a Deadly Conflict." Human Rights Watch. 2025.
[4] "Armed Conflict in Nigeria: An Overview." Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. 2023.
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