You might have missed this and may be wondering what exactly happened in Benue State and how such a tragedy unfolded.
Here’s a breakdown of the grim events.
According to Amnesty International, a horrific gun attack occurred in the Yelewata community.
The community is located in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The tragedy unfolded between the evening of Friday, June 13, and the early hours of Saturday, June 14.
The human rights organisation estimates that over 200 people were killed in the assault.
Unimaginable Cruelty
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Amnesty Nigeria revealed that many families were deliberately locked inside their homes and set ablaze.
The group reported that numerous victims were burned beyond recognition.
They described the attack as one of unimaginable cruelty.
It also stated that hundreds of survivors sustained injuries and were left without access to adequate medical care, while dozens remain unaccounted for.
Also, the police spokesperson in Benue confirmed that an attack did indeed take place in Yelewata.
In its statement, Amnesty International warned of a “deeply worrying escalation of attacks” across Benue State.
They added that armed groups have continued to unleash violence with complete impunity.
“The Nigerian authorities’ persistent failure to halt this wave of bloodshed is costing innocent people their lives and destroying entire communities,” the organisation stated.
“Without urgent and concrete action, more lives will be lost.”
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
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