Sat Jun 14 22:49:05 UTC 2025: ## News Article:
**Amnesty International Condemns Massacre in Benue State, Nigeria, Calls for Government Action**
**YELWATA, Benue State, Nigeria –** At least 100 people are feared dead following a brutal overnight attack by gunmen in Yelwata, Benue State, Nigeria, prompting a strong condemnation from Amnesty International. The rights group is urging the Nigerian government to take immediate action to halt the escalating violence plaguing the state.
The attack, which began late Friday and continued into Saturday morning, saw gunmen descend upon Yelwata, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Houses were reportedly burnt down, and residents are living in fear.
Amnesty International highlighted the severity of the situation in a statement released on X, formerly Twitter, stating they have been documenting the “alarming escalation of attacks across Benue state where gunmen have been on a killing spree with utter impunity.” They further warned of potential food insecurity due to the impact on farming communities, the majority of those affected.
“The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost,” Amnesty International warned. They are calling for the government to bring the perpetrators to justice and end the “almost daily bloodshed in Benue state.”
While government officials and police have visited Yelwata and confirmed the attack, they have offered a lower death toll of 45. However, residents on the ground paint a far grimmer picture.
“It is terribly bad, many people have died,” said Amineh Liapha Hir, a Yelwata resident, estimating the death toll to be over 100. Another resident, Christian Msuega, confirmed the devastation, stating that his sister and brother-in-law perished in the attack after being burned alive.
The region is frequently plagued by clashes between local herders, primarily Muslim Fulani, and farmers, often Christian, due to competition over dwindling land and water resources. This attack follows a similar incident last month in Gwer West, Benue State, where suspected herders killed at least 20 people.
The situation in Benue State remains tense, with Amnesty International and local residents alike calling for urgent and effective government intervention to prevent further loss of life and ensure the safety and security of the affected communities.
First Piper 