At least 43 people, including children, were killed and dozens injured in a wave of violent attacks in Benue State, a region in central Nigeria.
According to local media, the assaults took place in the Gwer West and Edikwu Akpali communities, where several homes were also set ablaze.
The violence is believed to have been carried out by armed herdsmen from the Fulani ethnic group, known for their nomadic lifestyle and reliance on livestock herding. This tragic event is the latest in a long-running and often deadly conflict between Fulani herders and farming communities over land, grazing rights, and natural resources.
Benue State, often referred to as Nigeria’s “Food Basket,” is a largely agrarian region. It has been a hotspot for tensions between herders and farmers, which frequently erupt into violence.
Just days earlier, on May 27, a similar attack reportedly left 20 people dead in the same area. The Fulani herders claim they are often targeted by farmers who they accuse of stealing or harming their livestock. However, community leaders and rights groups say that herders, some of them armed, have increasingly resorted to violent raids.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement on the latest incident, and the Nigerian government continues to face pressure to provide stronger security measures and address the root causes of the conflict.
