Bloody Easter: Over 100 killed in coordinated militia attacks across Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue

Nigeria mourns a "Bloody Easter" as militia attacks in Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue leave over 100 dead, targeting worshippers and vulnerable communities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 3:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEADERSHIP Media Group.

Massacre in Zike and Angwan Rukuba

The most devastating violence occurred in Plateau State, where the Zike community in Bassa LGA was descended upon by armed militia. Reports indicate at least 54 people were killed, with the majority of victims being children and the elderly who were unable to flee. This followed a midnight raid on Palm Sunday in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, where gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, killing at least 30 residents. The scale of the slaughter has led to the suspension of examinations at the University of Jos and the imposition of fresh curfews as the region grapples with the fallout.

Easter Sunday Attacks in Kaduna and Benue

The violence extended into Easter Sunday, desecrating the religious holiday in Kaduna and Benue States. In Gwer West, Benue State, gunmen killed at least 17 people and razed numerous homes, forcing hundreds of survivors into displacement camps. Simultaneously, in Kachia LGA, Kaduna State, worshippers were targeted during church services; several individuals were killed within sacred precincts, and an unconfirmed number of others were abducted into the forest. These events underscore a grim reality where neither sacred dates nor places of worship offer protection from escalating insecurity.

The "Clash" Narrative vs. Targeted Annihilation

Public commentators and security experts have pushed back against the official description of these events as "clashes" between ethnic groups. Critics argue that the coordinated nature of the raids—often involving attackers in military-style uniforms—points to planned annihilation rather than spontaneous communal conflict. While the farmer-herder dynamic and climate-driven migration are cited as underlying stressors, the primary driver is increasingly identified as a systemic failure of protection and the normalization of impunity for perpetrators.