What changed

B90114/2024

B90117/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria

(2024/2552(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules ofRule Procedure,144,

A. whereas the security situation in Nigeria has recently been aggravated by an escalation of religious and ethnic violence, especially in the country’s Middle Belt, where the conflict between farmers and nomadic herders over land and water resources, resulted in an unprecedented death toll since Christmas;

Whereas, between the 23 and 25 of December 2023, in Plateau state, Nigeria, a series of attacks devastated at least 17 rural communities in the regions of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, resulting in a reported minimum of 200 fatalities, over 300 wounded and 10.000 people displaced, according to local authorities and international organizations; whereas guns and machetes were used by the attackers; whereas responsibility for these attacks remains unclaimed;

B. whereas, according to Nigerian NGOs 52,000 Christians and 34,000 Muslims have been killed since 2009, and 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools have been burned down; whereas on Christmas eve over 200 Christians were killed in Plateau state after a worrying escalation of farmer-herder conflicts; where jihadi violence against Christians has also led to casualties in other parts of the country;

Whereas, on the 23 and 24 of January 2024, a new wave of violent attacks occurred in multiple villages located in the regions of Mangu and Barkin Ladi, in Plateau state, leading to at least 30 reported fatalities and numerous injuries, including women and children; whereas there were reports indicating extensive destruction of houses and property during these attacks;

C. whereas Nigeria’s population, the most numerous in Africa, is very diverse with over 250 ethnicities, and almost equally distributed between Muslims and Christians; whereas the country is home to the region’s largest Christian community, with nearly 30 million Christians living in northern Nigeria;

Whereas multiple reports highlight an excessively delayed response by security forces, leaving communities in these remote areas vulnerable to violence.

1. Strongly condemns the attacks perpetrated against Christian communities over Christmas which resulted in an unprecedented number of deaths, injuries and displaced people in the areas of Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu in Plateau State;

Whereas Plateau state is characterized by its rich ethnic and religious diversity; whereas the historical inter-communal conflict in the region has resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives in recent years;

2. Reiterates its concern about the worsening security situation in Plateau State and the worrying cycle of violence;

Whereas the consequences of climate change and the expansion of agriculture contribute to sharp competition for land and water, intensifying conflicts between farmers and herders and prompting the migration of nomadic cattle herders from the arid northern regions of Nigeria to the south;

3. Condemns the recent increase in violence against ethnic and religious communities, including the targeting of religious institutions and worshippers;

Whereas Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is a key player in Africa's economy with abundant resources, galloping demographics and extreme inequality; whereas Nigeria suffers of the presence of terrorist groups, notably Boko Haram and holds an important role in regional and international security forums;

4. Extends its condolences toDeplores the familiesongoing ofattacks thein victims,Plateau state and expresses its solidarity with the Nigerianaffected people;communities;

5. Strongly condemns militant Islamist groups exploiting the conflict, thus further fuelling insecurity; warns against an instrumentalisation of the farmers-herders conflict as a means to spread religion-based hatred;

Urges the Nigerian government to prioritize the safeguarding of its citizens, deploy efficient security measures, and ensure a prompt and concrete response to incidents of violence; calls on the Nigerian authorities to conduct thorough investigations and bring perpetrators of violence to justice, ensuring accountability for human rights violations;

6. Acknowledges the role of climate change, in the form of droughts and floods in northern Nigeria, in aggravating the farmers-herders conflict, pushing the herders to move south;

Expresses concern about multiple reports indicating an apparent lack of engagement and intervention by federal government troops, who have been present in Plateau state since the Christmas attacks;

7. Welcomes the debate by the Nigerian Parliament on the issue and encourages the government to enhance the security of citizens and communities, to foster dialogue and conflict mediation, and to reassure its commitment to socio-economic recovery;

Urges the Nigerian Government to diligently implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan, aiming to protect the interests of both farmers and pastoralists; stresses the imperative for additional measures, including the reinforcement of conflict mediation, resolution and reconciliation mechanisms;

8. Welcomes the strong EU-Nigeria partnership and calls for further deepening of the relationship, including in the area of security, mediation, and peace-building;

Deeply worried about the increasing impact of climate change on lives and livelihoods, particularly in Nigeria's Middle Belt, emphasizing the pressing need for long-term solutions to protect natural resources and ensure equitable access;

9. Welcomes Nigeria’s condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine in multilateral fora;

Calls for the EU to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the devastated communities of Plateau state and reinforce its development efforts in Nigeria;

10. Welcomes the EU announcement of a EUR 900 million Global Gateway package in October to advance the country’s futureproof green and digital transition in line with the government’s priorities; notes the priority placed by the incoming government on economic diversification and the opportunities this offers to deepen EU-Nigeria relations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU High Representative, EEAS, the President and Parliament of Nigeria and the OACPS-EU JPA.

11. Welcomes Nigeria’s assumption of the ECOWAS chairmanship; reiterates the positive role regional integration under ECOWAS plays for peace, stability and prosperity in West Africa;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Government and Parliament of Nigeria.