At least 43 people died in two separate attacks in February.
During the first attack in the early hours of February 20, 14 people were killed when gunmen attacked Rapyem village. All the victims were Christians, and were fast asleep when the village was stormed.
Two days later, gunmen attacked villagers living along the highway linking the local governments of Barakin-Ladi and Bokkos. Julius Bala, the leader of a vigilante group of youths, told local media 29 people were killed as they slept and a further 17 were injured. The attackers were repelled following a fierce battle with security forces.
Weapons indicate sponsor
Those attacked are from the Berom community, which is comprised mostly of arable farmers, whereas the perpetrators are suspected to come from the Hausa/Fulani minority who are predominantly herdsmen. Their rivalry over access to natural resources has been exacerbated over time, despite the deployment of a Special Task Force, a joint Army and police unit aimed at tackling the widespread violence in Nigeria’s so-called Middle Belt, on the dividing line between the mainly Christian south and predominantly Muslim north. The weapons used hint at their supply coming from a wealthy, faceless sponsor, showing that the Fulani are perhaps being infiltrated by Boko Haram.
Boko Haram means ‘western education is sinful’ in Hausa and, aiming to create an Islamic state in Nigeria, it has carried out other deadly attacks. Though both Muslims and Christians have died in Boko Haram’s attacks, their natural obstacle to achieving an Islamic state would be the Christian religion and the security forces who have sworn to protect the sovereignty of the country.
