Suspected herdsmen kill 7, burn houses

At least seven people were reportedly killed by armed assailants suspected to be herdsmen in an attack on Kaguru village, Chukun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

According to a report by The Cable, a resident of the area reported that the attack took place around 7pm with several houses also set on fire.

He said, "It was around 7pm that they came, as soon as they came, they started shooting and setting houses ablaze. Many houses were set ablaze.

"Seven people were killed on the spot. We buried the dead last night. Many people ran to the bush for their lives. We are living in fear. We are appealing to government to provide security for us."

Herdsmen attacks in 2018

Cattle herders have been linked to a string of violent killings across the country in the first month of 2018.

In the most devastating attacks that heralded the turn of the new year, a series of attacks in Guma and Logo Local Government Area of Benue State between December 31, 2017, and January 6, 2018 led to the death of 73 men, women and children.

Herders have also been linked to several other attacks in Taraba, Plateau and Ekiti that have left dozens dead, and more injured.

Government's plan to stop herdsmen crisis

The Nigerian presidency believes that bandits masquerading as herdsmen are behind the killings across the country.

To this end, “decisive military force will now be fully engaged to deal with the bandits believed to be behind the killings in parts of the country especially regarding the crisis often associated with herdsmen”, a highly placed presidency official told Pulse.

The role of “bandits and suspected mercenaries in what has become known as has provoked the need for a fresh approach to dealing with the crisis, sources close to the Working Group formed recently by the National Economic Council (NEC) disclosed on the condition of anonymity; because they haven't been authorized to speak on the subject.

The Working Group

The Working Group was formed a little over a week ago by the National Economic Council. It has nine Governors and is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The group held a meeting today, Thursday, February 1, 2018 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting was attended by the Vice President and Adamawa State governor, Jibrilla Bindow; Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi; Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong; Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and Zamfara State governor, Abdul'aziz Yari.