More than 43 people were killed after gunmen launched attacks on local communities in Nigeria’s north-central Benue State, local media reported Tuesday.
The assaults occurred late Sunday and early Monday in the Gwer West and Apa areas, where gunmen, some wielding machetes, targeted residents in separate incidents, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported, citing “credible sources.”
At least 25 people were confirmed dead in Apa, while over 18 bodies were recovered in Gwer West on Monday, according to Daniel Abomtse, a tribal leader in the region.
“The attackers came in a guerrilla-style,” Abomtse said, noting many people sustained varying degrees of injuries. “The way some people were butchered, I doubt if they will survive.”
Rescue teams had been deployed to comb nearby bushes for survivors who fled during the attacks, he said.
Edith Udeme, spokesperson for the police in Benue, confirmed the attacks at a press briefing Tuesday morning, identifying the assailants as “suspected herders,” adding that police had recovered several bodies and joined the search for more victims.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s central region between the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south, has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years.
The motive behind the latest attacks remains unclear. Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria’s northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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