The following is a list of massacres that have occurred in Nigeria:
Lists of massacres
Note: below categories may be imprecise and somewhat overlap. Reports sometimes misattribute motivation as well as the attacks possibly having mixed/multiple motivations. For example, a communal conflict between herders and farmers may appear motivated by religion and thus be categorized as "religious massacre" because of the religion of the involved parties.
Political and religious motivated massacres
NameDateDeathsInvolvedLocation – Circumstances1953 Kano riot1953~46political/ethnic riotconflicts between pro- vs anti- independence groups with political parties which also happened to largely sort into Southern vs Northern (Ibo/ Yoruba vs Hausa ethnicity), Christian vs Muslim etc..Tiv Riots1960-19642,000–4,000Various groupsBenue State (since 1976), Northern region, Benue valley – Occurred during protests for the creation of Benue state from the Northern region1966 Anti-Igbo pogromJuly and August 19668000-30,000Nigerian Army, Hausa-Fulani and othersNorthern Nigeria – Targeted killings of Igbo people in Northern Nigeria in revenge for the coup of 15 January 1966.Asaba massacre7 October 1967Up to 500 menLe Monde, 5 April 1968Nigerian 2nd DivisionDelta State, Asaba – Occurred during the Nigerian-Biafran WarSufuyan Ojeifo and Lemmy Ughegbe, Vanguard (Nigeria), 2001.http://www.dawodu.com/barrack7.htm Alfred Obiora Uzokwe, Surviving Biafra, 2002Ugep Massacre24 December 197565>Nigerian ArmyCross River State, Ugep – Occurred after soldiers accused towns people of murdering a drunk soldierhttps://www.calitown.com/full-text-of-the-press-statement-issued-by-the-umor-otutu-socio-cultural-organisation-on-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-1975-ugep-massacre/ Full text of the press statement issued by the Umor Otutu Socio-Cultural Organisation on the 40th anniversary of the 1975 Ugep Massacre 2015Bakolori Massacre28 March 1980380PoliceZamfara State, Bakolori – The government of the defunct Sokoto State wanted to build a dam in Bakolori, (Bakolori Dam) and offered to resettle the people. They refused and the police moved in to forcefully resettle them.1980 Yan Tatsine riots 18–29 Dec 1980est. 4,177 civilians, 100 police, 35 military religious insurgency instigated by Maitatsine and his followers in KanoUmuechem Massacre1 November 1990~85PoliceRivers State, Umuechem – After a protest at Shell's office by youths of the town demanding for electricity, water, roads and compensation following environmental degradation, the police moved in and massacred the town.https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/nigeria/Nigew991-08.htm Human Rights Watch, The Price of Oil viii) Protest and Repression in the Niger Delta, January 1999Odi massacre20 November 199943-2,500Nigerian ArmyBayelsa State, Odi – Nigerian military attacked the village of Odi, as part of the Conflict in the Niger Delta.2000 Kaduna riots also known as the first "Sharia clashes".Sharia 1: 21–25 February 2000; March Sharia 2: 22–23 May 20002,000–5,000Christians, MuslimsKaduna State, Kaduna – Religious riots between Christians and Muslims over the introduction of sharia law in Kaduna State, start of the religious riots phase of the Sharia conflict in Nigeria.2001 Jos riots 9–17 September 2001500–5000, Democratization and Islamic Law: The Sharia Conflict in Nigeria (Frankfurt am Main 2008) p.35-36. Campus Verlag. Christians, MuslimsPlateau State, Jos – Religious riots between Christians and Muslims.Zaki Biam Massacre 20–24 October 2001Over 200Nigerian ArmyBenue State – Attack by the Nigerian Army avenging the kidnapping and killing of 19 soldiers by suspected Tiv militiaMiss World riots22 November 2002200+Islamists, later rioting Christians and MuslimsKaduna State, Kaduna – Inter-religious riots that started on 22 November in Kaduna, along with many houses of worship being burned by religious zealots. Cause: article in Thisday about the 2002 Miss World beauty contest (to be held in Abuja), in which Muslims took offence.Yelwa massacreFebruary–May 2004c. 975"Revenge in the Name of Religion", Human Rights Watch, 26 May 2005.Christians, MuslimsYelwa, Shendam and Kano – Religiously motivated killings between Christians and Muslims.Muhammad cartoons crisis18 February 2006120+Muslims and ChristiansBorno State, Maiduguri and Onitsha, Anambra State – The international crisis reached the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, in which over 50 people were killed and many buildings destroyed or damaged by rioting Muslims, outraged because of cartoons about Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. Christians also later burned Muslim corpses and damaged mosque in Onitsha, causing 5,000 Muslims to flee the city to Asaba.2008 Ogaminana massacre26 February 2008over 50PoliceKogi State, Ogaminana – Police descended on Ogaminana at 8.30 pm, killing and brutalizing mostly elderly men, women and children in a reprisal attack that has sent shock and outrage throughout the country.2008 Jos riots 28–29 November 2008381 Christians, MuslimsPlateau State, Jos – Religious riots between Christians and Muslims over the result of a local election.2009 Boko Haram uprisingJuly 20091,000+Boko HaramMaiduguri, Bauchi, Potiskum, Wudil – Militants killed over a thousand people between 26 and 29 July; during the violence2010 Jos riots2010992Christians, MuslimsPlateau State, Jos – Religious rioting.2011 Abuja United Nations bombing26 August 2011116Islamists (Boko Haram)Federal Capital Territory, Abuja – 312 injured; Boko Haram attacked a United Nations compound2011 Damaturu attacks4 November 2011100-150Islamists (Boko Haram)Yobe State, Damaturu – Islamic militants associated with Boko Haram attacked police stations and banks.December 2011 Nigeria clashesDecember 201168+Boko HaramMaiduguri and Damaturu – Militants associated with Boko Haram clashed with security forces between 22 and 23 December.December 2011 Northern Nigeria attacks25 December 201141+Islamists (Boko Haram)Federal Capital Territory, Madalla – 73 injured;Militants bombed a Catholic church. 5–6 January 2012 Nigeria attacks 5–6 January 201237+ Boko HaramMubi, Yola, Gombi, and Maiduguri – Terrorists attacked communities; Boko Haram claimed responsibility.20 January 2012 Nigeria attacks1 January 2012185 Boko HaramKano State, Kano – Terrorists attacked government installations including police stations and barracks, Immigration offices etc.; Boko Haram claimed responsibility.April 2012 Kaduna bombings8 March 201238 Boko HaramKaduna State, Kaduna – Terrorists bombed a community.June 2012 Kaduna church bombings7 June 201212BBC News Africa : "Nigeria: Dozens dead in church bombings and rioting" (17 June 2012) - (Retrieved : 30 May 2013)-19Reuters-UK : "Nigerian Christian worship subdued by church bombs", by Augustine Madu and Joe Brock (24 June 2012) - (Retrieved : 30 May 2013) Boko Haram (suspected)Kaduna State, Wusasa, and Sabon Gari – 80 injured; Islamic terrorists bombed three churches.Deeper Life Church shooting7 August 201219Three unidentified gunmenKogi State, Okene – Militants attacked a community.December 2012 shootings in Northern Nigeria25 December 201227 Boko Haram (suspected)Federal Capital Territory, Abuja – Militants attacked a community.2013 Baga massacre 19–20 April 2013228+Nigerian army or Boko HaramBorno State, Baga – Identity of the perpetrators remains unclear; some blame the Nigerian military while others blame the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram.Mamudo school massacre, also known as Yobe State school shooting6 July 201330 Boko HaramYobe State, Mamudo government secondary school – Suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 41 children and one teacher. Konduga mosque shooting 11 August 2013 44 Boko Haram Borno State – At least 44 Muslim worshippers were killed by Boko Haram militants.Benisheik massacre18 September 2013159 Boko HaramBorno StateGujba college massacre29 September 201350 Islamists (Boko Haram) suspectedYobe State, Gujba Yobe school – At 1:00 a.m. suspected gunmen from Boko Haram entered the male dormitory in the College of Agriculture in Gujba, killing at least forty-four students and teachers.Kawuri massacre11 January 201485Boko haram: 85 dead and counting in northeast Nigeria village , Wednesday, 29 January 2014 12:36.Islamists (Boko Haram)Borno State, Konduga Local Government – Attack by Boko Haram.February 2014 Konduga massacre2 February 201439 Boko HaramBorno State, Konduga – About 39 people are believed to have been killed in an attack by Militants on a Nigerian town.