Attacks linked to Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria have claimed more than 120 lives this year, sparking reprisal attacks in what is seen as a struggle for resources.
A focal point of the violence has been Benue state, where over 70 victims were buried on 11 January 2018. (Note: The Fulani are a largely Muslim group found in the Sahel region and parts of West Africa.)
The official response to the violence has sparked national debate. Likening the clashes to terrorism, former aviation minister and a prominent critic of the government Femi Fani-Kayode said terrorism deaths in Nigeria were higher than acknowledged.
“In the past year, Nigeria has experienced the greatest increase in deaths from terrorism, with 7,512 deaths reported – an increase of over 300%”, he tweeted to his more than 650,000 followers at the beginning of January 2018.
This story was originally published on Africa Check, a Wits Journalism project. Read the full story here. Cover image by AK Rockefeller
