Nigeria weeps again as the cycle of unprovoked killings by Fulani herdsmen continues, leaving behind shattered homes, broken families, and unanswered questions. The latest tragedy unfolded today, April 30th, in Angwan Doka 2, New Nyanya, Nasarawa State, where a young boy was gruesomely murdered in broad daylight.
According to eyewitness reports, the boy had merely confronted a Fulani herdsman whose cows were eating the mango tree he had recently planted. “Why are you letting your cows eat my mango tree?” the boy reportedly asked. The simple question was met with barbarity. Without hesitation, the herdsman drew a knife and stabbed the boy to death.
The lifeless body of the young boy lay in a pool of blood as neighbors and bystanders screamed in horror. “It happened right before our eyes,” a grieving resident told AmiLoaded. “We are not safe in our own land anymore.”
Sadly, this is not an isolated case. Across Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt and Southern regions, communities are reeling from repeated attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen. From Benue to Plateau, Kaduna to Enugu, countless innocent men, women, and children have fallen victim to senseless violence.
Just weeks ago in Miango, Plateau State, 17 villagers were massacred in their sleep. In Agatu, Benue State, over 40 lives were lost in a single night raid. In Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State, farmers were hacked to death on their way to the field. And in Ebonyi, children and elderly alike were burnt inside their homes.
Despite outcries, the killings continue. Entire communities have been displaced, schools and markets abandoned, and local economies ruined. Survivors live in fear, haunted by memories and bracing for the next strike.
“It’s as if our lives mean nothing,” says Madam Grace Umeh, a widow from Benue whose husband and two sons were killed in a similar attack. “We cry for help, but no one is listening.”
The most painful part remains the impunity. Very few arrests have been made, and many believe the government is not doing enough to protect its citizens. Faith leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations have repeatedly condemned the killings and called for urgent intervention.
“This is beyond a farmer-herder clash,” said Rev. John Duniya, a humanitarian worker in Nasarawa. “This is a genocide slowly unfolding before our eyes. We must act now before more lives are lost.”
Nigeria counts its dead yet again, the country must ask: How many more children must be buried before justice is served.
