Runji massacre

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]

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]