At least 55 people were killed in two fresh attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday in north-central Nigeria’s Plateau state, the scene of deadly inter-communal violence since Christmas, it was reported today. by two community leaders and a report by the Nigerian Red Cross.

Despite a 24-hour ceasefire imposed on Tuesday in the local district of Mangu, schools, places of worship and houses were set ablaze and looted during the two attacks, community officials said.

The Muagabul Development Association, an organization that includes members of the predominantly Christian Muagabul ethnic group, accused Muslim Fulani herders of attacking the village and killing “thirty people”.

This account was confirmed by a local first aid officer and an emergency service official at the scene, who asked not to be named.

Police and military spokesmen have not responded to AFP requests for confirmation.

“Two IDP camps have been set up in Mangu town, for almost 1,500 people,” said Nuruddin Hussaini Magaji, president of the local office of the Nigerian Red Cross.

The governor of Plateau state announced the ceasefire on Tuesday following a fresh standoff that authorities attributed to a dispute between a herdsman moving his herd and other residents using the road.

The second attack took place in the city of Mangu, also between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), a communal Muslim organization, said places of worship and religious schools had been attacked.

“We have found 25 bodies, we are waiting for the protection of the security forces to bury them,” said Jafaru Musa, one of the local JNI officials. “We are continuing our inquiries with the support of the Red Cross to see if we can still find dead people, as many people have gone missing.”

This account was confirmed by another JNI official, Salim Musa.

Repeated attacks

Plateau state sits on the border between Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north and Christian-majority south, a hotbed of inter-communal violence.

Tensions have risen sharply since nearly 200 people were killed on Christmas Day during raids on mostly Christian villages.

The conflicts in the north-west and north-central states of Nigeria are rooted in communal tensions linked to land use between nomadic pastoralists and farmers.

But these kinds of attacks have reached uncontrollable proportions. Heavily armed gangs, known locally as bandits, attack villages, looting and kidnapping for ransom.