According to a regional official, the violence took place across three villages from Friday to Sunday. The clashes are rooted in disputes over land access between farmers and herders.

Speaking with the France-Presse agency (AFP), Ormin Torsar Victor, head of local government of Gwer West, in the state of Benue, stated that the attacks occurred in three villages between Friday and Sunday. “No less than twenty people were killed Sunday in the village of Aondana” he said by phone, adding that more than ten others had perished in another village.

Ruthie Dan Sam,a resident of Aondona,testified to AFP: “Twenty people were killed here in aondona. children under two are killed. The worst show is a baby victim of a machete to the mouth” she described. She added that other people had been killed in neighboring villages, but could not provide exact figures.

Ormin Torsar Victor also mentioned that he and other residents had buried five people, including a father and two of his sons, who were killed in an area “Very close to a military base”.

Anene Sewuese Catherine, Benue’s state police spokesperson, confirmed two attacks in the region. However, she stated that her office had received “No report reporting twenty people [tuées]”.She clarified that an assault resulted in the death of a police officer who had “Pushed an attack” and that “Three bodies had been discovered”.

An Enduring Conflict

“Children under two are killed. The worst show is a baby victim of a machete to the mouth”

While the exact motives behind the attacks remain unclear, Ormin Torsar Victor attributed these as “Coordinated attacks” by Muslim Fulani livestock breeders.

The Fulani, primarily nomadic herders, have been in conflict with sedentary farmers, many of whom are Christians, over land and resources in the region for a long time.

The State of Benue, situated in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, has experienced years of deadly clashes between nomadic herders and local farmers. Farmers often accuse herders of allowing their cattle to destroy agricultural land.