Amnesty international nigeria said on saturday (June 14) that gunmen attacked and killed at least 100 people in Yelewata village in Benue state of central nigeria from late friday night to saturday morning.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Amnesty said that many people are still missing, dozens are injured and they have not been able to get adequate medical care. According to the statement, many families were locked in their bedrooms and burnt alive.
Increasing violence in Benue state
Amnesty international has said that there has been a worrying increase in violent attacks in Benue state. The organization said that gunmen are killing people fearlessly and no legal action is being taken against them. Due to these attacks, people are being displaced on a large scale and food security is also in danger, as most of the dead are farmers.
Land disputes, religious and ethnic tensions are the root of violence
Benue state, located in the middle belt of nigeria, is a confluence of Muslim communities of the north and Christian communities of the south. This area often remains the center of disputes between herders and farmers over land use. While herders look for pastures for cattle, farmers protest due to the need for agricultural land. These conflicts often turn into ethnic and religious tensions.
There was an attack last month as well, more than 500 lives lost so far
This incident has happened at a time when just a month ago, at least 42 people were killed in attacks by suspected herders in Benue's Gwer West district. According to research firm SBM Intelligence, since 2019, more than 500 people have died in such violent clashes and about 2.2 million people have been forced to leave their homes.
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