Attacks in Nigeria Leave Many Dead

(MENAFN) Nearly 23 individuals lost their lives and numerous others sustained injuries following a series of armed assaults in Nigeria’s Benue State, according to an official statement made on Sunday.

The attacks were allegedly carried out by gunmen, further aggravating the fragile security situation in the region.

Ray Anumve, a representative from the Kwande Local Government Area, disclosed in an interview with a regional newspaper that the violence was instigated by Fulani herdsmen, who are traditionally involved in cattle rearing.

These herders reportedly targeted several villages in coordinated strikes.

Anumve verified that the death toll had reached 23, with children among the deceased.

He further explained that the assailants not only committed murders but also set numerous homes ablaze during the attacks.

In addition, they plundered the residents' food reserves, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Benue State has witnessed repeated violent disputes between Fulani pastoralists and farming communities.

These recurring confrontations are rooted in disputes over land use and access to resources.

In a comparable incident in April, nearly 100 people were reportedly killed in similar hostilities in the same region.

The Fulani herders, who travel across Nigeria seeking pasture for their livestock, have alleged that local farmers are attempting to seize their animals and are initiating hostilities against them.

These tensions have been further intensified by armed criminal groups, who have taken advantage of the unrest to carry out attacks and instill fear among the population.

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