Over 100 Killed in Gun Attack on Nigerian Village

ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 100 people have died in a gun attack on a village in Benue state, according to Amnesty International Nigeria. The attack occurred between late Friday and the early hours of Saturday in Yelewata, a community within the Guma area. In a Facebook post, Amnesty described the incident as one of the deadliest in recent months.

Survivors reported that many families were locked inside their homes, which were set ablaze. “So many bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” Amnesty stated. Graphic videos and images posted on social media depicted charred buildings and corpses, highlighting the scale of the violence.

Udeme Edet, a police spokesperson in Benue, verified that an attack took place but did not provide specific casualty numbers. Eyewitnesses express fear that the death toll is much higher, with dozens still unaccounted for.

While the perpetrators remain unidentified, violence between local herders and farmers is a recurring issue in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. Farmers accuse predominantly Fulani herders of allowing their livestock to destroy crops, while herders contend they are following historical grazing routes supported by law.

In related recent violence, gunmen believed to be herders killed at least 20 individuals in the Gwer West area of Benue last month. Additionally, April saw at least 40 fatalities in the neighboring Plateau state.

In response to the tragedy in Yelewata, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has sent a delegation to support the victims’ families, expressing deep concern over the violence. “This act of terror is heartbreaking. We are committed to ensuring those responsible are brought to justice,” a governor’s office spokesperson remarked.

The escalating violence is intensifying fears about food security in Benue, often dubbed the “food basket of the nation,” as many of the deceased were farmers. Amnesty International has called for urgent government action to end the bloodshed in the region.