Armed attackers raid communities in Plateau state amidst last year’s Christmas preparations
How you can help displaced and injured survivors
Since the turn of the millennium, Plateau state has been beset by fatal bouts of insecurity, leading to the killings of thousands and injuries to many more. Dating all the way back to the deeply saddening Jos riots of 2001, the central Northern/middle belt state has dealt with several conflicts, many of them reportedly centred on religious tensions. Amidst last year’s Christmas festivities, armed groups killed over 100 people, injured and displaced many more across three local government areas in the state.
According to reports, the fatal attacks began in the evening of Saturday, 23rd December, and lasted untill the early hours of Christmas morning. Initially, local authorities stated that 16 people had been killed in the attacks, before the numbers were reported to be more than 113 people. Addressing the press just in the aftermath of the attacks, Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, said the attacks were “well-coordinated” and they happened across “not fewer than 20 different communities.”
With rural communities making up the grounds of these attacks, analysts have pointed at climate conditions as a core cause of the attacks, noting that farmer-herder clashes have been frequent in the region, owing to locals seeking to protect their farmlands at a time where fertile lands are decreasing. The local community have also claimed that ethnoreligious motivations play a huge role in fulani, muslim herdsmen attacking local, predominantly christian communities. In survivor accounts, the herdsmen – or bandits as they’re often referred to by news media – killed, maimed and chased people out of their homes, and also razed houses and food barns to the ground.
One of the Victims of the Attack who was interviewed by the Middle Belt Patriots team yesterday.
We crave your indulgence to listen to their story and understand what these people have had to experience (and are still experiencing)
More videos will be posted shortly! pic.twitter.com/o2TWIuc856
— KANGYANG PWAJOK (@pwajok_jane) January 4, 2024
Located in the middle of the country, separating the mainly muslim north from the south, Plateau State is in close proximity to the insurgency that has plagued the North. In the last two-plus years, the danger of armed herdsmen attacking locals in communities as far as Southeastern states and Southwestern states has been a recurrent issue, with concerned citizens even forming vigilante groups. The attacked communities in Plateau state also formed vigilante groups for self-defence, however, locals claim that local police frequently arrest and disarm young people found with firearms, which leave them at the mercy of the same police force and military personnel who reportedly have extremely slow response times.
The Christmas attacks took affected communities by surprise, bloodying what should have been a joyous festive period. “We were scared because we weren’t expecting an attack. People hid, but the assailants captured many of us, some were killed, others wounded,” Markus Amorodu, a resident of Mushu village, told AFP. Immediately after the tragedies, condolence messages poured out across social media, from concerned Nigerians to the global Christian community, who identified the attacks as a fatal persecution for the thousands who live in these communities.
Currently, many of the survivors have been displaced, while many killed victims were buried in mass graves. Many displaced survivors are living in IDPs, barely subsisting on donations from individuals. A GoFundMe account has been set up to assist survivors during these difficult times, and volunteers have reached out to people from these communities, publicly sharing their stories and how the donated funds are being used. The NATIVE urges everyone who can donate to please do so.
These are some of the houses that were burnt in the 24th December attack. Some partially and others completely to ashes. pic.twitter.com/VvsbxMndAA
— KANGYANG PWAJOK (@pwajok_jane) January 4, 2024
WHAT’S GOING ON SPECIAL: THE CRUELTY OF UGANDA’S ANTI-GAY LAWS
Fanti Carnival Returns to Lagos This Easter with a Vibrant Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the streets of Lagos Island alive with colour, music, and culture. With roots dating back to 1890, the Lagos Fanti Carnival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrating the deep ties between Nigeria and Brazil through a dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian heritage and modern creativity.
This year’s edition is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Robert Taylor Media and the Brazilian Descendants Association of Lagos. Together, they aim to honour the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian community in Lagos — descendants of formerly enslaved returnees who shaped the city’s culture, religion, and architecture.
The carnival procession will kick off at 12:00 PM, starting from Old Defence Road and will end at the JK Randle Centre, with accreditation beginning at 10:00 AM. Attendees can expect a stunning showcase of traditional costumes, Afro-Brazilian drumming, dance, and performances from local creatives reinterpreting heritage for a new generation.
Whether you’re drawn to the dazzling pageantry, the live performances, or the chance to connect with a rich cultural history, the Fanti Carnival is an unmissable event this Easter.
Tickets are now available, and more information can be found via the official Fanti Carnival website or their social platforms.
Keep reading...
Vlisco’s “The Garden Of Sisterhood” Campaign Comes To Life in New “MAYANGA” Video
A celebration of creativity and cultural
Dutch textile brand Vlisco recently unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood,’ as part of its women’s month celebration. The campaign, which looks to extend Vlisco’s rich legacy in African fashion and its ongoing celebration of creativity and cultural storytelling, takes inspiration from Congolese musical icon Fally Ipupa’s latest single, “Mayanga.” The song’s accompanying music video was shot in the Ivory Coast, and seamlessly balances Ipupa’s signature soulful Rumba music with intricate floral motifs and soft, elegant colour palettes that celebrate the strength and individuality that blossoms through community.
In addition to Fally Ipupa, Vlisco also tapped up Ivorian fashion designer Loza Maléombho and Nigerian director Daniel Obasi to contribute to ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood’ campaign. Maléombho’s unique designs and Obasi’s striking storytelling helped contribute to actualising Vlisco’s distinct aesthetic and vision of merging heritage, creativity and fashion.
In a statement discussing the collaboration with Vlisco, the Congolese superstar described it as a beautiful experience. “They understood my vision of working with talented artists and honouring the beautiful women who wear Vlisco fabrics. By creating exclusive designs for me and the remarkable women in the cast, Vlisco really brought our artistic vision to life, harmoniously fusing music and fashion,” he said.
Similarly, Marlou van Engelen, the creative director of Vlisco, expressed that it was an honour working with Fally Ipupa. “His song ‘MAYANGA’ perfectly reflects our admiration for the women who shaped us, inspire us, and mean so much to us. For us, it’s not just about fashion; it’s about the stories told through our beautiful prints. And I believe the best stories are always told together,” she said in a statement.
View this post on Instagram
Keep reading...
NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
Keep reading...
