American rapper Nicki Minaj has drawn attention to the ongoing killings in Plateau State, Nigeria, by sharing a report on the violence and posting a brief prayer. Her post came amid reported attacks in communities around Barkin Ladi and other parts of Plateau. The attacks have resulted in multiple casualties, with the exact number still subject to independent verification.
The latest violence occurred despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu on 21 September. The government restricted movement in the three local government areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, aiming to enable security agencies to stabilise the affected areas and prevent further attacks.
On 24 September, three members of a community watch group were killed in Gassa. The victims were identified as Ishaya Dung, Barnabas Jack, and Manasseh Mushwer. Ezekiel Dachomo, a cleric in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, later attended their burial. He expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for raising the issue of attacks against Christians during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Another attack was reported on 26 September at a mining site in Marit, Barkin Ladi. According to community sources, five miners were killed and two others injured. However, a separate report citing security sources put the death toll at six, with two others injured, resulting in an unverified casualty figure.
The renewed violence has prompted additional security operations around Dorowa, Babuje, Marit, and Lajam communities. The continuing violence in Plateau has generated competing accounts about its causes and religious dimensions, with Christian communities reporting repeated attacks while violence has also affected Muslim residents and other communities in the state.
Nicki Minaj's latest intervention comes months after she publicly commented on violence against Christians in Nigeria. In November 2025, she addressed a United Nations event organised by the United States Mission to the UN, calling for action against religious violence. Her latest post, however, was limited to a prayer accompanying the report on the killings.
For now, security agencies face pressure to protect communities affected by the attacks and establish the circumstances and perpetrators behind the latest killings. The Plateau State Government and security agencies have not released an official statement on the recent attacks or Nicki Minaj's comments.
Key points
- Nicki Minaj shares prayer over Plateau killings, drawing attention to the violence.
- The killings in Plateau State have resulted in multiple casualties, with the exact number still subject to independent verification.
- The Plateau State Government had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu to curb the violence.
