At Least 20 Killed in Armed Attack on Community in Central Nigeria
ABUJA — June 23, 2026 — At least 20 people were killed after a group of unidentified gunmen attacked the Kawel community in Plateau State, central Nigeria, on Sunday, June 21, police confirmed .
The assailants stormed the village in the Bokkos Local Government Area, opening fire indiscriminately and attacking residents with machetes before fleeing . Police spokesman Alfred Alabo said 18 people were confirmed dead at the scene, while two others who were injured later died in hospital . Several other people were wounded in the attack . Police officers arrived at the scene and exchanged gunfire with the attackers, forcing them to retreat . No arrests have been reported .
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The motive for the attack remains unknown, and police have launched an investigation . No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the assault .
Attacks on Farmers Reported Amid Regional Violence
Local residents and authorities reported that the victims included farmers . Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has directed government emergency management and humanitarian agencies to provide immediate relief and support to victims and their families .
Plateau State is located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt—a region linking the country’s predominantly Muslim north and Christian south—and has long experienced recurring violence in rural areas . The attacks often pit mostly Christian farming communities against semi-nomadic Muslim herders, with disputes frequently centered on access to land and water resources strained by climate change and population growth . Illegal mining and accusations of land grabbing have further aggravated tensions .
This is the second deadly attack in Plateau State in recent months. A nighttime attack in March killed 20 people in the Gari Ya Waye community, also in Plateau . Meanwhile, Nigeria faces multiple overlapping security challenges, including an extremist insurgency in the northeast and armed gangs operating in the northwest and north-central regions .
Last week, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of religion highlighted that chronic impunity for armed groups was driving genocide claims in Nigeria, following a visit that included Plateau State .
As of Tuesday, June 23, security forces have not reported any arrests in connection with the Kawel attack. The remains of the victims have been released to their families for burial .
SOURCES / INPUTS
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- Pakistan Today: 21 farmers killed in central Nigeria attack
- Vietnam.vn: At least 21 farmers were killed in an attack in central Nigeria.
- African News Agency: Nigeria’s Plateau state: Gunmen massacre 21 farmers in brutal attack
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