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Violence in Central Nigeria: Attacks by Suspected Herdsmen Lead to Multiple Deaths

LAGOS (Reuters) – In a tragic escalation of violence, at least 17 individuals lost their lives during an attack carried out by suspected cattle herders in Benue State, Nigeria, according to local police reports. This incident marks the latest episode in a long-standing conflict between agricultural farmers and herders that has intensified recently.

For years, the ongoing strife has severely impacted food security in north-central Nigeria, an area known for its agricultural productivity.

The brutal attacks occurred just two days following a similar incident in which 11 people were killed in the Otukpo region of Benue. Furthermore, this violence comes in the wake of a devastating onslaught in neighbouring Plateau State, where over 50 lives were claimed by armed assailants less than a week prior.

Since the year 2019, it is reported by research firm SBM Intelligence that the confrontations between herders and farmers in the region have resulted in the deaths of more than 500 individuals and have displaced approximately 2.2 million people.

On Friday morning, a separate incident involved suspected herdsmen who fatally shot five farmers in the Gbagir area of Ukum Local Government. This occurred as law enforcement was responding to the situation, with police spokesperson Sewuese Anene providing details on the confrontations that ensued.

While police were engaged with the assailants in Ukum, another attack unfolded in the Logo local council area, approximately 70 kilometers away, leading to an additional 12 fatalities, highlighting the pervasive nature of this violence across the region.

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