Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria — Latest report show say at least 56 people don die for twin attacks wey happen for Benue State dis week. Di governor office quickly revise di earlier death toll of 17 wey dem announce on Saturday. Dem expect say di figure fit still increase as search and rescue operations dey ongoing, according to one government spokesperson.
Police spokesperson Anene Sewuese Catherine talk say “a large number of suspected militia don invade” di area overnight. Dis attack come during di time of renewed violence between herders and farmers, a wahala wey don result to hundreds of deaths for di past years.
Security forces don dey deployed and as di assailants “were being repelled in di early morning” of di attack, dem shoot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers, wey lead to di death of five farmers for Ukum area of Benue. Police also report say another attack happen for Logo, about 70 kilometers from di first area.
“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack happen,” di police spokesperson add, as 12 people die for dat neighboring locality before police fit reach di scene.
These attacks come two days after armed assailants kill 11 people for di Otukpo area of Benue and barely a week after gunmen attack communities in Plateau State, resulting to more than 50 deaths. Since 2019, clashes between nomadic cattle herders and farmers don kill over 500 people in di region and force 2.2 million to run from their homes, according to SBM Intelligence.
The conflict, wey mainly involve di Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers from di Berom and Irigwe ethnic groups, often dey portrayed as ethnoreligious. However, analysts talk say climate change and di scarcity of grazing land dey cause di conflict, as farmers and herders dey struggle for land irrespective of their religious beliefs.
Dis violence don disrupt food supply from north-central Nigeria, wey be one major agricultural area. Di Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, don appeal to di Federal Government to quickly intervene as insecurity don dey escalate.
During his visit to affected areas on Saturday, Governor Alia meet with grieving residents and community leaders. He describe di killings as “barbaric, senseless, and an affront to humanity,” and urge higher federal action to stop di violence. “We are calling on di Federal Government and security agencies to do more. These attacks must stop,” he say.
Di governor also reassure di people say him government dey work hard to improve security across di state. “As we dey mourn, we gats also be determined. Our people deserve to live in peace, and we gats do everything to make sure say peace return,” he conclude.
In response to di ongoing situation, security don dey reinforced for di Sankera axis wey include Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala. Emergency response teams don also mobilize to provide relief materials for di displaced persons, including food, shelter, and medical support. Di violence for Benue reflect di larger trend of insecurity wey dey affect Nigeria’s North Central region, as neighbouring Plateau State don also record more than 100 deaths in di last two weeks.
