2019 Kaduna State Massacre
Some sources like the Christian Association of Nigeria, stated that the governor lied. The National Emergency Management Agency denied it. However, some of the graves in which the Fulani victims were buried were shown to the Premium Times.
Locals have claimed the attack began as part of revenge for clashes in October 2018 between Christians and Muslims in Kajuru which killed 55 people in total. Of the dead, 22 were children, and another 11 were women. Violence around election time is fairly common in Nigeria. Hundreds were killed during post-election violence in 2011.
At least 29 people were reported to be killed in an attack in Karamai community of Kajuru on 26 February 2019. The attack was suspected to be from Fulani in retaliation to the earlier violence where Fulani settlements were attacked. The governor confirmed a few days later that the death toll had risen to 40.
The Coalition Against Kajuru killings stated on March 18 that since then 130 people have been killed in a series of revenge attacks over the massacre announced by El-Rufai.