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BENUE, Nigeria - At least 43 individuals lost their lives when armed assailants targeted communities in the Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas of Benue State on Sunday.
A publicly listed official from the Benue State police confirmed the incidents on Monday.
“Yes, it is confirmed. However, I cannot provide the exact number of casualties at this time,” said an officer who noted he was not authorized to comment on the situation.
In a statement released on Monday, Amnesty International expressed concern over the rising number of fatalities in Benue State, reporting that approximately 85 individuals had been killed within a single week.
“On Sunday, armed attackers struck two communities in Gwer West and Apa LGA, resulting in at least 43 deaths. A group of gunmen targeted Tse Antswam, close to Naka town around 7:00 p.m.
Simultaneously, another group attacked Edikwu Ankpali,” stated Amnesty International. It continued, “Violence in Benue: 85 fatalities in a week. Within just one week, at least 85 people have died in Benue State.
The previous week, attackers killed 42 individuals in brutal assaults on villages in Gwer West LGA.”
On May 29, Amnesty International had reported that bandits and armed groups had killed over 10,000 citizens across Nigeria during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure in the last two years.
The human rights organization identified Benue and Plateau States as having the highest number of deaths due to organized assaults by bandits and gunmen.
