At least 100 people killed by gunmen in north-central Nigeria, rights group says

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At slightest 100 radical person been killed successful a weapon onslaught connected a colony successful Nigeria’s north-central Benue state, Amnesty International Nigeria said

ByDYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN Associated Press

ABUJA, Nigeria -- At slightest 100 radical person been killed successful a weapon onslaught connected a colony successful Nigeria ’s north-central Benue state, Amnesty International Nigeria said Saturday.

The onslaught took spot betwixt precocious Friday and the aboriginal hours of Saturday successful Yelewata, a assemblage successful the Guma country of the state, the rights radical said successful a Facebook post.

Dozens of radical are inactive missing, and hundreds were injured and without capable aesculapian care, it added.

“Many families were locked up and burnt wrong their bedrooms. So galore bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” Amnesty said.

Graphic videos and photographs connected societal media platforms showed what appeared to beryllium corpses and burnt down houses successful the aftermath of the attack.

Udeme Edet, a spokesperson of the constabulary successful Benue, confirmed that an onslaught took spot successful Yelewata, but did not specify however galore radical were killed.

While it remains unclear who was liable for the killings, specified attacks are common successful Nigeria’s bluish portion wherever section herders and farmers often clash implicit constricted entree to onshore and water.

The farmers impeach the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock connected their farms and destroying their produce. The herders importune that the lands are grazing routes that were archetypal backed by instrumentality successful 1965, 5 years aft the state gained its independence.

Last month, gunmen, believed to beryllium herders, killed astatine least 20 people successful the Gwer West country of Benue. In April, astatine slightest 40 radical were killed successful the neighbouring authorities of Plateau.

Benue State Gov. Hyacinth Alia has sent a delegation to Yelewat to enactment relatives of the victims.