Abuja, Apr 7:
At least 26 people were killed in three separate Easter weekend attacks across northern Nigeria, according to the military and local officials.
In Gwer West, Benue State, 17 residents of Mbalom were killed in an attack amid ongoing tensions between Fulani herders and local farmers, with residents calling the violence “devastating” as the rainy season approaches.
In Borno State, four police officers died in a gunfight with an Islamic State-affiliated group targeting a police headquarters. In Ariko village, Kaduna State, gunmen attacked an Easter service, killing five people.
The assailants tried to abduct 31 hostages but fled after troops responded, reportedly sustaining casualties.
These attacks highlight the ongoing cycle of violence in northern Nigeria, including communal clashes, gang activity, and repeated assaults on churches. The Nigerian government rejects claims that these incidents constitute a “Christian genocide,” despite criticism from the US and prior military actions against extremist groups in the region.