Latest news with #Yelwata
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Many die for fresh herdsmen attack for Benue state
Fresh violent attack don lead to di death of many villagers for Benue State, North central Nigeria. Di attack happun for Yelwata, a Benue border town with Nasarawa state wia suspected armed herdsmen attack di pipo on Friday night. Authorities don confam di incident. Benue state Govnor Hyacinth Alia condemn di attacks and killing of innocent citizens for Yelewata say ''nobody get right to take anoda pesin life'' Officials say at least 45 pipo die during di overnight attack for central Nigeria. Eyewitnesses say na armed cattle herdsmen carry out di attack and police say dem engage di attackers for gun battle. Dem burn down many houses for di raid on Yelewata town. On Sunday youths enta street to protest di killings wey no be like say e go stop. The protesters gather for di Wurukum area of Makurdi, the state capital wit placards to demand goment protection from di herdmen. Clashes between herders and settled farmers dey common for central Nigeria. Part of di reason for di fight-fight na sake of competition ova land. ''In di spirit of peace and unity, we dey call on religious, traditional, and political leaders across di state to sensitize and guide di youths wey dey under dia influence against unlawful gatherings or confrontations wey fit go out of control''. Govnor Alia tok Two days ago, 25 pipo bin die wen gunmen attack Makurdi di state capital. Two weeks ago, gunmen bin kill 25 pipo for two attacks, also for Benue state. Govnor Alia beg citizens to use of official communication channels to report any suspicious activities and to stay informed through credible sources. ''Benue State dey committed to justice, peace, and security for all''. Govnor Alia add.
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
At least 100 people killed in gunmen attack in Nigeria: Rights group
At least 100 people have been killed in a northcentral Nigerian town following an overnight attack by gunmen, as Amnesty International called for the government to end the 'almost daily bloodshed in Benue state'. The attack, which occurred from late Friday into Saturday morning, took place in Yelwata, a town in Benue State, according to Amnesty. 'Amnesty International has been documenting the alarming escalation of attacks across Benue state where gunmen have been on a killing spree with utter impunity. These attacks have been causing massive displacement and may affect food security as majority of the victims are farmers,' the rights group wrote on X. 'The Nigerian authorities' failure to stem the violence is costing people's lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost,' the organisation said, adding that many people were still missing from the Kula, a spokesperson for the state governor's office, told the AFP news agency earlier on Saturday that the attack lasted about two hours and a 'number of houses [were] burnt down'. He added that government officials and police officials had visited Yelwata and 'confirmed' a lower death toll of 45. Police spokesperson Udeme Edet confirmed the attack to AFP and said police had engaged the attackers in a gunfight. But locals told AFP that they feared that more than 100 people had been killed in the attack. 'It is terribly bad, many people have died,' Amineh Liapha Hir, a resident of the town, said. 'It could be more than 100, and many houses were also burnt,' Hir added. Another resident, Christian Msuega, said he escaped the attack, but his sister and brother-in-law had died after being burned alive. In the region, attacks are common as local herders, mostly Muslim ethnic Fulani, and farmers, many of whom are Christian, clash over the limited access to land and water. Last month, gunmen who were believed to be herders killed at least 20 people in the Gwer West area of Benue.
