At least 30 people have been killed in Nigeria’s Benue state following a brutal attack by suspected bandits on a village, the state’s Information Commissioner reported on Friday.
Matthew Aboh, the Benue State Commissioner for Information, informed reporters that the attack took place on Thursday night in Ayati village. He confirmed that 30 bodies had been recovered so far, with search efforts continuing to locate more victims.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but according to Benue police spokesperson Sewuese Anene, gunmen stormed the village and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia, strongly condemned the violence.
Benue, situated in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, lies at the intersection of the predominantly Muslim North and the mainly Christian South. The state is often a flashpoint for conflict, where disputes over land use between farmers and herders are exacerbated by ethnic and religious tensions.
