An attack by Fulani herdsmen on villages in Benue state on the second day of the year 2018 left 73 people dead, hundreds injured, 40000 displaced. Unfortunately, the threat of violent herdsmen is not new: in 2016, pastoral conflicts accounted for more deaths in Nigeria than Boko Haram. And the rate at which the herdsmen commit these crimes has increased exponentially.
In fact, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index, Fulani herdsmen are the fourth deadliest militant group in the world with a record killing of 1229 people in 2014.
Below is a timeline of herdsmen attack across Nigeria from 2012 till date:
September 30, 2012: A Fulani herdsman murdered one Benjamin Chegue on his farm. The victim was the Director of Personnel Management in the Isoko North Local Government Council In Delta State.
February 29, 2013: Many lives were lost after Fulani herdsmen attacked Agatu, burning Inoli, Ologba, olegeje, olegogboche, olegede, Adana, Inminy and Abugbe communities in Benue state.
April 23, 2013: 10 Farmers were killed in an attack on Mbasenge community in Guma LGA by suspected herdsmen in Benue state.
May 7, 2013: 47 people were gunned down in Agatu, Benue state while burying two policemen killed earlier in the week by Fulani herdsmen in Nassarawa.
May 14, 2013: 40 people were killed after over 200 herdsmen invaded Ekwo-Okpanchenyi, Agatu LGA of Benue state.
July 5, 2013: About 20 People were killed in a “conflict” between Tiv farmers & Fulani herdsmen at Nzorov, Guma LGA, Benue state.
July 31, 2013: Herdsmen invaded 2 villages in Agatu LGA in Benue Benue state killing 8 villagers allegedly in retaliation for the killing of 112 cows
November 7, 2013: Fulani Herdsmen invaded Ikpele & Okpopolo communities in Benue state killing 7 and displacing over 6000 inhabitants.
November 9, 2013: 36 locals were killed and 7 villages overrun in an attack by herdsmen on locals in Agatu LGA in Benue state.
November 20, 2013: Fulani herdsmen attacked some communities in Guma LGA, Benue state, killing 22 locals and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
January 20, 2014: Fulani herdsmen invaded a community in Agatu LGA, Benue state, killing 5 soldiers and 7 civilians.
20-21 February 2014: Fulani Herdsmen attacked Gwer West LGA. 35 persons killed. 80,000 displaced. 6 Council Wards Sacked.
February 24, 2014: Fulani herdsmen attacked a Tiv community along Naka road, Makurdi, killing 8 people.
March 6, 2014: Fulani herdsmen killed about 30 people in Kwande, Katsina-Ala and Logo LGAs in Benue state
March 12, 2014: 28 people were killed by Fulani herdsmen after they raided Ukpam village of Mbabaai in Guma LGA of Benue state
March 10, 2014: Fulani herdsmen attacked Former Governor Suswam’s convoy at Umenger, Benue state. He and convoy manage an escape.
March 12, 2014: 22 people were killed after Fulani Herdsmen attacked Former Governor Suswam’s village in Logo LGA.
March 23, 2014: Fulani herdsmen killed 25 people and injured 50 people in Gbajimba, Guma LGA Benue state.
March 25, 2014: Police recovered 7 corpses following an attack on Agena village by Herdsmen.
March 29, 2014: Herdsmen attack 4 villages in Agatu LGA. 19 people killed, 15 others abducted.
March 29, 2014. 15 people were killed after Fulani herdsmen made use of chemical weapons on Sengev community in Gwer West LGA, Benue state.
March 30, 2014: 19 people were killed and 15 abducted in Agatu LGA by Fulani herdsmen.
April 5th, 2014: Fulani herdsmen opened fire on community leaders and residents that were meeting in Galadima village. At least 200 people were killed and an unknown number were injured in the attack.
April 10, 2014: 6 people were killed by Fulani herdsmen after they attacked 4 villages in Ukemberaga Tswarev ward of Logo LGA
April 15, 2014: Fulani herdsmen attacked Obagaji, Headquarters of Agatu LGA and killed 12 youths.
September 10, 2014: 20 people were killed at Fulani herdsmen attacked five villages in Ogbadibo LGA.
January 27, 2015: 17 people were killed in attacks on Abugbe, Okoklo, Ogwule & Ocholoyan in Agatu LGA by Fulani herdsmen.
January 30, 2015: Over 100 attackers stormed 5 villages in Logo LGA, killing 9 persons in the attack.
March 15, 2015: Fulani herdsmen invaded Egba village in Agatu LGA and over 90 locals, including women and children, were killed.
April 27, 2015: 28 people were killed by herdsmen in an attack on 3 villages at Mbadwem, Guma LGA Benue state.
May 11, 2015: 5 people were killed in Ikyoawen community in Turan Kwande LGA Benue state
May 24, 2015: 100 people were killed in an attack by Fulani herdsmen in villages & refugee camps at Ukura, Gafa, Per, and Tse-Gusa, Logo LGA Benue state.
July 7, 2015: Fulani herdsmen killed one person following an attack on mourners in Imande Bebeshi in Kwande LGA Benue state.
November 5, 2015: 12 people were killed, 25 others injured in Buruku LGA following an attack by suspected herdsmen Benue state.
Feb 8, 2016: 10 people were killed and over 300 displaced in a clash between herdsmen and farmers at Tor-Anyiin and Tor-Ataan in Buruku LGA Benue state
February 18th, 2016: Five people were killed by Fulani herdsmen at Okokolo village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Feb 21-24, 2016: Over 500 people were killed and 7000 displaced in an attack on Agatu LGA by Fulani herdsmen.
March 5, 2016: About 500 people were killed by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen after an attack on Agatu local government area of Benue state.
March 9, 2016: 8 people were killed by Fulani herdsmen in attacks on Ngorukgan, Tse Chia, Deghkia and Nhumbe in Logo LGA Benue state.
March 13, 2016. 6 people were killed by herdsmen in an attack on Tarkaa LGA.
February 29, 2016: 11 people were killed in Edugbeho Agatu, Benue state.
March 10, 2016:2 people were killed after Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Agatu.
April 12, 2016: Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba state and killed 15 people.
April 19, 2016: Fulani herdsmen allegedly killed over 23 persons in Delta state. April 25th, 2016: About 40 people were killed by Fulani herdsmen after they attacked 7 villages in Nimbo in Uzo- Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
June 16th, 2016: A 45-year-old renowned farmer was shot by Fulani herdsmen in Ossissa community in Ndokwa east local government area of Delta state.
June 20th, 2016: At Least 59 people were killed following an attack in Benue State.
January 24, 2017: 15 people were killed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
March 2, 2017: 10 people were killed after Fulani herdsmen and farmers clashed in Mbahimin community, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
March 11, 2017: 7 people were killed when Fulani herdsmen attacked a Tiv community, Mkgovur village in Buruku locale
May 8 2017: Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen in Tse-Akaa village, Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
May 13, 2017: Less than one week after many people were killed by herdsmen in three communities of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, armed herders struck again on May 13 killing eight more people.
December 31, 2017 and January 2, 2018: 73 persons including seven members of the Benue State Livestock Guards have been killed in fresh attacks on Benue communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen after they invaded Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo and Turan all in Logo LGA as well as Umenger, Tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse-Abi in Nongov District of Guma LGA
January 14, 2018: 10 people were killed as Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government of Kaduna State.
January 17, 2018: At least 4 people were killed in an attack on Uhime and Angyo communities at Dooka in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State by Fulani herdsmen.
January 17, 2018: 4 people were killed in a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas on Wednesday in Benue State.
January 25, 2018: 6 people were killed in two separate attacks by Fulani herdsmen on two communities in Plateau State.
January 30, 2018: Fulani herdsmen attacked NNPC officials, killed one person in Benue
February 26, 2018: Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Delta state and killed a Couple.
February 28, 2018: 20 people were killed in Adamawa after Fulani Herdsmen attacked Farmers.
MARCH 5, 2018: 10 people were killed by Fulani Herdsmen in Benue’s Omosu village
MARCH 7, 2018: 26 people were killed as herdsmen sack Benue village in a fresh attack.
March 7 2018: 2 people were killed in Takum, Taraba.
March 8 2018: 11 people were killed in Bassa, Plateau
March 9 2018: 9 people were killed in Bokkos, Plateau
March 12 2018: 26 people were killed, 26 in Bassa, Plateau
March 13 2018: 5 people were killed in Guma, Benue
March 14 2018: 32 people were killed in Daima/Omala, Kogi
March 14 2018: 2 soldiers were killed in Rafiki, Bassa Plateau
March 14 2018: Herdsmen killed 4 soldiers in Miango, Bassa, Plateau
March 15 2018: 5 people were killed in Takum, Taraba leaves
March 19 2018: 10 people were killed in Omala, Kogi
March 22 2018: Fulani herdsmen attack leaves 3 dead in Jos South, Plateau
March 24 2018: 5 people were killed in Makurdi, Benue
April 4 2018: Family of 4 people were killed in Takum, Taraba
April 4 2018: Fulani Herdsmen killed 10 in Gwer West, Benue
April 5 2018: 5 people were killed in Dobga, Taraba
April 5 2018: 30 people were killed in Gwer, West, Benue
April 5 2018: more than 50 people were killed in Offa, Kwara
April 7 2018: Family of four people were killed in Bali, Taraba
April 7 2018: 2 people were killed in Agatu, Benue
April 8 2018: 5 people were killed in Birkin Ladi, Plateau
April 9 2018: 1 Soldier was killed in Guma, Benue
April 10 2018: 51 people were killed in Wukari, Taraba
April 12 2018: 2 people were killed in markudi, Benue
April 13, 2018: 5 people were killed in Bassa, Kogi
April 14, 2018: 4 policemen were killed in Logo, Benue
April 17, 2018: 1 village head people were killed in Logo, Benue
April 18, 2018: 4 people were killed in Bassa, Plateau
April 20, 2018: 31 people were killed in Guma, Benue
April 25, 2018: Herdsmen raid and kill 2 priest and 17 others, Gwer East, Benue
April 25, 2018: 39 people were killed in Guma, Benue
April 30, 2018: 2 killed, six others injured in herdsmen attack in Aniocha LGA, Delta
May 14, 2018: Fulani herdsmen sack 2 Kogi state communities, killed 10 people
6 Jun 2018: Fulani herdsmen killed 9 people in a fresh Benue attack.
Sept 3, 2018: 14 people were killed as herdsmen attack Plateau
Sept 27, 2018: Armed Fulani herdsmen accompanied by militants in Nigerian army uniforms killed 17 Christians in their homes in the heart of Jos, north-central Nigeria.
26 Oct 2018: Two people were killed by Fulani Herdsmen Attack in Guma, Benue State.
22 Nov 2018: 10 people were killed in Katsina state
Jan 13, 2019: Herdsmen kill fisherman, injure two others in Delta community
April 10, 2019: Four people killed in herdsmen attack in Delta
April 15, 2019: Herdsmen killed 16 in Nasarawa during the naming ceremony
Jun 28, 2019: Herdsmen killed a village head in Ogun state.
Jul 12 2019: Fulani herdsmen kill Fasoranti’s daughter
Aug 17, 2019: Herdsmen kill 67 yrs old woman in Enugu
Jan 3, 2020: 23 people killed as herdsmen attack Kogi community
Jan 22, 2020: Fulani herdsmen killed 2 people in Kaduna
Jan 27, 2020: Herdsmen killed Nollywood actor in Ilorin
Feb 19 2020: Herdsmen kill 2 soldiers in Plateau, injure one
