Gunmen Kill Over 100 in Nigeria Benue Village Attack

At least 100 people were killed in a brutal overnight attack by gunmen on the village of Yelewata in Nigeria's central Benue state, according to Amnesty International Nigeria. The attack, occurring late Friday into early Saturday, involved families being locked up and burnt inside their bedrooms, with many victims charred beyond recognition, dozens missing, and hundreds injured without adequate medical care. The violence is part of ongoing clashes in the Middle Belt region, where predominantly Muslim herders and largely Christian farmers compete over land and water resources, exacerbated by ethnic and religious tensions. This attack follows recent deadly incidents, including a series of attacks in May where 42 people were killed in the Gwer West district, and has contributed to over 500 deaths since 2019, displacing around 2.2 million people. Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has deployed a delegation to support victims' families and vowed to bring those responsible to justice, while police continue to assess the situation. The identities of the attackers remain unconfirmed, but such violence is often attributed to conflicts involving Fulani herders and local farmers in the region.