Nigeria: At least 100 killed in gun attack in Benue state village, Amnesty International claims
The human rights group's branch in Nigeria said the attack occurred between Friday evening and Saturday morning in Yelewata, a community in the Guma area of Benue state.
"Many families were locked up and burnt inside their bedrooms," the group said in a post on X. "So many bodies were burnt beyond recognition."
It said hundreds of people were injured and were without adequate medical care, while dozens of others were missing.
A police spokesperson in Benue confirmed that an attack took place in Yelewata but did not specify how many people had died.
Amnesty noted in a statement that there had been an "alarming escalation of attacks across Benue state where gunmen have been on a killing spree with utter impunity".
"The Nigerian authorities' failure to stem the violence is costing people's lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost," it added.
Last month, gunmen, believed to be herders, killed at least 20 people in the Gwer West area of Benue.
In April, at least 40 people were killed in the neighbouring state of Plateau.
Benue is in Nigeria's 'middle belt', a region where the majority Muslim north meets the largely Christian south.
Attacks are common in Nigeria's northern regions, where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water.
Farmers accuse the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock on their farms and destroying their produce.
The herders insist that the lands are grazing routes that were first backed by law in 1965, five years after the country gained its independence.
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Sky News
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The Guardian
18 hours ago
- The Guardian
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BBC News
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Who be Nentawe Yilwatda, APC new National chairman
Di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) don announce Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as dia new National Chairman. Di Proferssor go replace Abdullahi Ganduje wey resign from di position for June. Dem choose di new chairman for dia 14th meeting of di National Executive Committee (NEC) wey dem hold for Abuja on Thursday. Appointment of Yilwatda dey come afta Ganduje resign for June 27, 2025, and Ali Bukar Dalori, di Deputy National Chairman of di party bin act till in dat capacity Yilwatda na 56-year-old man from Plateau State and di current Nigeria Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. Di party leaders bin support Yilwatda for di position including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, afta dem nominate am. Profile of Nentawe Yilwatda Dem born Prof Yilwatda on August 8, 1968, for Dungung, Kanke Local Govment Area of Plateau State. E get degree for Electrical/Electronic Engineering from di Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi for 1992, a Master degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and PhD for Digital Systems Engineering from di University of Nigeria, Nsukka. E be registered engineer wit di Council for di Regulation of Engineering for Nigeria (COREN). Also member of di Nigerian Society of Engineers, di Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and di Solar Society of Nigeria. Yilwatda journey include both im experience for public and private sectors. E bin serve as di Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State under di Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2017 to 2021. For 2022, Yilwatda bin resign from INEC to contest for di APC govnorship primary for Plateau State,and e become di party candidate. Meanwhile, lose di 2023 election to Caleb Mutfwang of di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For October 2024, President Tinubu appoint am as di Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. E go kontinue to dey hold im Minister role join di APC chairmanship position.
