Runji massacre
| Runji massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Southern Kaduna crisis of the Nigerian bandit conflict and Herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria | |
| Location | Runji, Zangon Kataf LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria |
| Date | April 15, 2023 10:30pm |
| Target | Christian civilians |
| Deaths | 33+ |
| Injured | Unknown, but many |
| Perpetrator | Local bandit groups Local Fulani herdsmen |
No. of participants | 200 |
On April 15, 2023, at least 33 people were killed in an attack by bandits on the village of Runji, Zangon Kataf LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The massacre occurred just a month after the Ungwan Wakili massacre in March in the same LGA. The massacre was part of a larger campaign of attacks by bandits against civilians in Zangon Kataf.
Background
[edit]Zangon Kataf LGA has been under siege by various bandit groups since late February 2023, although attacks on various communities in the LGA have occurred since 2017.[1][2] On March 11, bandits killed 17 people in Ungwan Wakili.[1] Despite a police station and military outpost near Zangon Kataf, Nigerian authorities have done little to prevent the attacks.[3] Three days prior to the Runji massacre, eight people were killed by bandits in a village near Runji.[3] In the village of Atak Njei on April 14, bandits killed seventeen civilians.[4]
These bandit conflicts often intermingle with conflicts between sedentary farmers and nomadic Fulani herdsmen, the former of whom are Christian and the latter are Muslim.[5] Runji is a Christian village.[5]
Massacre
[edit]The massacre occurred in the early hours between April 15 and 16, 2023. Around 200 bandits entered the village of Runji at 10:30pm on April 15, shooting sporadically at residents and setting fire to around forty houses.[1] Survivors of the massacre said that the bandits were local herdsmen and other armed bandits.[5] Many of the victims of the massacre were women and children at home.[5] At least 33 people were killed in the massacre, and many more were injured and taken to local hospitals.[5] A mass funeral took place on April 16.[3]
Nigerian officials stated they would investigate the attack, with Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai condemning it and visiting the village on April 17.[5] Kaduna state officials said that Nigerian forces engaged in clashes with the perpetrators, who were still in the area.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Kankhwende, Kiri (April 18, 2023). "Zangon Kataf LGA in southern Kaduna under siege". Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ^ Uthman, Samad (2023-05-01). "Zangon Kataf: Bandits 'killed 518 people, destroyed 18 villages' in five years". TheCable. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ a b c "33 Killed in Attack by Gunmen in Northwest Nigeria". Voice of America. 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "Bandits attacks in Kaduna: 'Dem kill my sister, shoot my father during Zangon Kataf attack'". BBC News Pidgin. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g Correspondent, Our Nigeria (2023-04-17). "Terrorists Kill 33 Christians in Village in Kaduna State, Nigeria". Morningstar News. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
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