The Key Players, Perpetrators, Victims & Affected Communities in Sankera’s Crisis.
The violence in Sankera is not random—it is driven by armed groups, politicians, security forces, and external actors. Below is a breakdown of who is involved, who suffers, and which communities are most impacted.
Perpetrators: Who is Behind the Violence?
Armed Militias & Criminal Gangs
These groups operate like local warlords, controlling territories through terror:
Chain Gang
– Leader: Full Fire” (real name unknown)
– Activities: Kidnapping, armed robbery, political thuggery
– Known for: Massacres in Ukum villages (e.g., Ayati, Gbeji)
Full Fire (Rival faction)
– Leader: “Ortor” (killed in 2023)
– Activities: Drug trafficking, assassinations
– Known for: Beheading rivals in Katsina-Ala
Black Axe & Other Cult Groups
– Recruits: Unemployed youths, students, ex-politician thugs
– Activities: Cybercrime (Yahoo-Yahoo), ritual killings
Fulani Militia (Bandits/Herdsmen)
– Some are local Fulani, others are foreign mercenaries from Niger/Chad
– Known for: Midnight raids (e.g., Tse-Adoor, Mchia)
Politicians & Sponsors
– Some politicians fund these gangs for election rigging & intimidation
– Withheld payments after elections lead to gang rebellions
– Security Forces (Complicit & Active Actors)
– Some soldiers/police take bribes to ignore gang activities
– Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) raids often lead to civilian deaths
Victims: Who Suffers the Most?
Civilians (Farmers, Women, Children)
– Farmers: Killed for resisting land grabs by herders/gangs
– Women & Girls: Raped, kidnapped for ransom
– Children: Forced into gangs, orphaned by violence
Local Business Owners
– Markets attacked (e.g., Katsina-Ala market shootings)
– Traders pay “protection fees” to gangs
Displaced Families (IDPs)
– Over 250,000 displaced from Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala
– No food, no shelter —many flee to Makurdi or Taraba
The Most Affected Communities
Local Government Area | Hotspot Communities | Type of Violence |
Ukum | Ayati, Gbeji, Gbagir | Gang wars, kidnappings |
Katsina-Ala | Abaji, Tor Donga, Mbacher | Herdsmen raids, cult killings |
Logo | Tse-Adoor, Ugba, Anyiin | Fulani attacks, military raids |
External Actors fuelling the Crisis
– Weapons Suppliers: Illegal arms from Libya, Niger, Cameroon enter Sankera
– Human Traffickers: Kidnapped victims are sold into slavery in Benue, Taraba and even as far as Lagos and Abuja.
– Corrupt Traditional Rulers: Some chiefs take bribes to shield the actual criminals.
A Cycle of Blood
– The Gangs kill civilians → the Military kills gang members & civilians → Politicians exploit the chaos → More youths join the gangs → Repeat. Until real disarmament, jobs, and justice come, Sankera will keep bleeding.
COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE CRISES
The maps of Sankera and Benue aid visualization of the spatial pattern and distribution of the impact of the crises within the local communities.
The crises impact is distributed at the administrative council ward level. The interpretation of the crises impact map of Sankera as encoded in a colour scheme to aid visual interpretation is presented.
It can be observed that 7 out of 12 Council wards in Katsina-Ala, 10 out of 13 in Ukum and 3 out 10 in Logo local government areas making a total of 20 out of 35 council wards in Sankera axis are ranked as a high crises impact area, coded in pure red on the map. This implies that, these council wards are under intense hardship from Herdsmen attack, Banditry attack, Gang wars and incidences of Incidences of Kidnapping.
It can also be observed that 2 out of 12 council wards in Katsina-Ala, 3 out of 13 in Ukum and 2 out of 10, making a total of seven 7 Wards are ranked as Moderate crises impact areas in Sankera axis, coded in gold-like colour on the map. These set of council wards are under intense hardship from Bandit attack, Incidence of Kidnapping and gang wars.
Similarly, 3 out of 12, in Katsina-Ala and 5 out of 10 wards making a total of 8 council wards, coded in ‘pile-yellow-like’ colour as low crises impact area in Sankera, these set of council wards experience isolated criminal activities.
