At Least 102 Dead in Brutal Armed Attack: Local officials and witnesses reported that a predawn raid on a hamlet in north-central Nigeria’s Benue State killed at least 102 people on Saturday.
In Guma Local Government Area, the Yelewata settlement was overrun by armed men who were believed to be criminal herders late Friday night. The attack lasted until the early hours of Saturday.
The incident is one of the deadliest recently in Nigeria’s ongoing conflict between herders and farming communities, which has gotten worse due to disagreements about livestock damage, migration routes, water access, and land.
Dennis Denen Gbongbon, president of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley, told Anadolu over the phone that “we have lost no fewer than 102 people, and over 100 others are in critical condition at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi.”
“To save the lives of the injured, medical personnel have issued an urgent call for blood donations’ contributions.”
A another survivor, who identified himself as Godspower, told Anadolu: “The armed men burned our people while they slept by pouring gasoline into our shelters and then setting them on fire.”
Residents reported that families were trapped inside burning buildings and that residences were destroyed during the more than two-hour-long attack.
Authorities were still determining the entire extent of the attack, according to Joseph Har, the governor of Benue State’s special assistant on security and internal affairs, who verified the occurrence.
“We are looking into the unfortunate event that occurred in the wee hours of this morning, in which over 100 individuals were killed. Har reported, “We have recovered 102 bodies.”
Udeme Edet, a spokesman for the Benue State Police, stated that tactical troops had been sent to the region.
In a statement, Edet added, “We regret to inform you that some people unfortunately lost their lives and others were injured.” Police have not given up and are currently pursuing the assailants. We’ll keep working to keep everyone secure
