By Prosper Mene, April 08, 2025
A brutal attack by gunmen in Nigeria’s Plateau State has left at least 52 people dead, with women and children among the casualties, intensifying fears over the region’s spiraling violence. The attack, which occurred on April 7, 2025, in a rural community, was reported by Reuters and has reignited calls for urgent government action to curb the insecurity plaguing the area.
Local authorities and survivors described a scene of chaos as armed assailants struck, targeting villagers in an escalation of the long-standing conflict between herders and farmers. While the exact motive remains unclear, the violence has once again exposed the disproportionate impact on women, who are increasingly caught in the crossfire. Many have been widowed, displaced, or left to fend for orphaned children amid a cycle of retaliatory attacks that shows no sign of abating.
“This is not just about land or cattle anymore—it’s a war on our families,” said Grace Dung, a community leader in Jos, who lost relatives in the assault. “Women are burying their husbands and children, yet we’re still waiting for protection that never comes.”
The Plateau State government confirmed the death toll and deployed security forces to the area, but residents say such measures are too little, too late. Advocacy groups argue that women, who often lack the means to flee or defend themselves, are bearing the heaviest burden. Displacement camps are swelling with female-headed households, and reports of gender-based violence in these areas are on the rise.
The federal government has faced mounting criticism for its inability to stem the bloodshed in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where ethnic and resource disputes fuel unrest. Women’s organizations rallied in the state capital today, demanding targeted interventions—such as safe havens and economic support—to shield vulnerable populations from further harm.
“We cannot keep counting bodies while the world looks away,” said Fatima Ibrahim of the Plateau Women’s Network. “The government must act now, or more women will pay the price for this neglect.”
Women in Plateau State are facing immense challenges amidst the ongoing crisis. The recent attacks have left them vulnerable to severe violence, sexual abuse, poverty, food scarcity and insecurity. Many have lost their homes, farms and livelihoods, forcing them to flee or live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
