At least 25 people have been killed in two separate attacks by unidentified gunmen across north-central Nigeria’s Benue State, local authorities confirmed on Sunday. The attacks are the latest in a wave of violence that continues to plague the region, often fueled by long-standing land and resource disputes between farming and herding communities.
The coordinated assaults reportedly took place in two rural areas over the weekend, with survivors describing chaotic scenes and entire households wiped out. Local officials say the attackers stormed villages in the early hours, opening fire on residents and torching homes.
“Twenty-five people have been confirmed dead in these senseless attacks,” a Benue State government spokesperson said. “Security operatives have been deployed to the affected areas, and investigations are ongoing.”
Benue State, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has seen escalating violence in recent years as tensions mount over grazing land and farmland usage. The state’s governor has repeatedly called for stronger federal intervention to curb the persistent killings and restore order.
Human rights groups have condemned the attacks and urged the Nigerian government to address the root causes of the crisis, including land reforms, disarmament of militias, and improved rural security.
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