In the dead of night, a brutal assault unfolded in Yelwata, a town situated in Nigeria’s Benue State, leaving a trail of devastation and terror. At least 100 lives are feared to have been claimed in a gruesome attack carried out by unidentified gunmen, sparking international outcry and renewed calls for urgent intervention from human rights advocates. 

Amnesty International has urgently condemned the Nigerian government’s handling of the escalating violence, accusing authorities of allowing these atrocities to continue with impunity. The rights organization emphasized that the relentless cycle of violence in Benue may threaten regional food security and displace countless communities, as most victims are farmers who rely on land and water resources traditionally contested by local herders and agriculturalists. 

According to reports, the assault began late Friday evening and persisted into the early hours of Saturday. The town of Yelwata was targeted in a surprise attack that lasted approximately two hours. Witnesses and local officials described scenes of chaos as houses were reduced to ashes and innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. 

Tersoo Kula, spokesperson for the Benue State government, informed international agencies that officials and police officers had visited the scene and estimated that around 45 residents were confirmed dead. However, residents dispute this lower figure, with many asserting the casualties significantly exceed initial estimates. 

Amidst the chaos, residents like Amineh Liapha Hir described the horror, stating, “It is terribly bad, many people have died. It could be more than 100, and many houses were also burnt.” Another survivor, Christian Msuega, recounted his narrow escape from the violence, revealing that his sister and brother-in-law perished after being burned alive in their home. 

Police authorities engaged the gunmen in a fierce gunfight during the attack, yet the assault resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life. Police spokesperson Udeme Edet confirmed the incident to AFP and noted security forces' efforts to contain the situation, but the damage was already done. 

The cyclical violence in Benue is rooted in longstanding conflicts over land and water resources, often between herders—many of whom are ethnic Fulani Muslims—and predominantly Christian farmers. These clashes have become increasingly violent in recent months. Just last month, gunmen believed to be herders killed at least 20 people in the Gwer West area of Benue, further illustrating the fragile security situation in the region.

Human rights organizations have condemned the Nigerian authorities' failure to prevent or sufficiently respond to these recurring attacks. Amnesty International’s call for urgent action underscores the peril faced by innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of political, ethnic, and religious tensions that perpetuate the cycle of violence in Benue. The international community watches closely as Nigeria grapples with these deadly conflicts, hoping for decisive measures to restore peace and safeguard lives.