In Depth:  Dr Atta Barkindo

Five Christian youths were recently sentenced to death by hanging for killing a Fulani herder, himself alleged to have killed 48 people.

The five are from Adamawa state in northeast Nigeria, one of the three states most severely hit by the Boko Haram insurgency. Many fled Boko Haram, only to be targeted again, this time by mainly Muslim Fulani herders, responsible for more violence than Boko Haram over the past three years. Dr Atta Barkindo*, who has researched the area widely, analysed some of the root causes behind the inter-ethnic, inter-religious conflict.