Runji massacre

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Runji massacre
Part of Southern Kaduna crisis of the Nigerian bandit conflict and Herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria
LocationRunji, Zangon Kataf LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria
DateApril 15, 2023
10:30pm
TargetChristian civilians
Deaths33+
InjuredUnknown, but many
PerpetratorLocal 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.

Contents

Background

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

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

  1. 1 2 3 Kankhwende, Kiri (April 18, 2023). "Zangon Kataf LGA in southern Kaduna under siege". Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ Uthman, Samad (2023-05-01). "Zangon Kataf: Bandits 'killed 518 people, destroyed 18 villages' in five years". TheCable. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  3. 1 2 3 "33 Killed in Attack by Gunmen in Northwest Nigeria". Voice of America. 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Correspondent, Our Nigeria (2023-04-17). "Terrorists Kill 33 Christians in Village in Kaduna State, Nigeria". Morningstar News. Retrieved 2025-09-02.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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