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Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Charred bodies, shattered lives after gunmen kill 100 in Nigeria
YELWATA, Nigeria, June 17 (Reuters) - The gunmen attacked after dark and chased farmer Fidelis Adidi away from the central Nigerian village of Yelwata. The next morning he returned to find the charred remains of one of his two wives and four of his children. They had been living in a room he had rented in the market, in an attempt to keep them safe from a wave of clashes between cattle herders and farmers in the country's Middle Belt region. His second wife and another child were badly wounded in the assault that began on Friday night and, according to Amnesty International, killed around 100 people in the town in Benue region. "My body is weak and my heart keeps racing," the 37-year-old told Reuters as he stood outside the room, surveying the damage. "I lost five of my family members." In another room in the market, bodies lay burned beyond recognition next to blackened piles of food and farm equipment. Authorities have struggled to contain the violence that has simmered for years, fuelled by competition over land as well as ethnic and religious divisions. President Bola Tinubu - who called the recent upsurge in attacks "depressing" on Monday - is due to visit Benue on Wednesday, his first visit there since coming to office two years ago. Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency said it was working with aid agencies to help at least 3,000 people displaced by the violence in a territory where the majority Muslim north meets the predominantly Christian south. Market trader Talatu Agauta, who is pregnant with her second child, fled when the attackers came on Friday night and took refuge in the state capital Markudi. She came back over the weekend to find 40 bags of her rice had been burned. A devastating blow, but not enough to drive her from her home. "I came back and even if I die here, I don't mind," she said.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 45 killed in central Nigeria raid
Officials say at least 45 people have been killed during an overnight attack in central Nigeria's Benue state. Eyewitnesses said the attack was carried out by armed cattle herders and police say they then engaged the attackers in a gun battle. Many houses were burnt during the raid on Yelewata town. Clashes between nomadic herders and settled farmers are common in central Nigeria. They are partly fuelled by competition over land. Two days ago, 25 people died when gunmen attacked Makurdi. Two weeks ago, gunmen killed 25 people in two attacks, also in Benue state. Disbelief as Nigeria urges prayer to end food shortages 'I watched helplessly as water washed my family away' in Nigeria floods Life is improving in Nigeria, president says Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
14-06-2025
- BBC News
Benue attack: At least 45 killed in central Nigeria raid
Officials say at least 45 people have been killed during an overnight attack in central Nigeria's Benue state. Eyewitnesses said the attack was carried out by armed cattle herders and police say they then engaged the attackers in a gun battle. Many houses were burnt during the raid on Yelewata town. Clashes between nomadic herders and settled farmers are common in central Nigeria. They are partly fuelled by competition over land. Two days ago, 25 people died when gunmen attacked Makurdi. Two weeks ago, gunmen killed 25 people in two attacks, also in Benue state. You may also be interested in: Disbelief as Nigeria urges prayer to end food shortages'I watched helplessly as water washed my family away' in Nigeria floodsLife is improving in Nigeria, president says Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
