Sun Jun 15 02:55:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Amnesty International Nigeria reports that at least 100 people were killed in an attack by gunmen in Yelewata village, Benue state, Nigeria. The attack took place from Friday night to early Saturday. Dozens more are injured and missing, with families reportedly burned alive in their homes. Benue state is located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region marked by conflict between herders and farmers, exacerbated by ethnic and religious divisions. Clashes in the region have claimed over 500 lives since 2019, displacing 2.2 million people.

**News Article:**

**Nigeria Violence Escalates: Over 100 Killed in Benue State Attack**

**Yelewata, Nigeria – June 15, 2025** – A brutal attack in Nigeria’s central Benue state has left over 100 people dead, according to Amnesty International Nigeria. Gunmen descended upon the village of Yelewata late Friday, continuing their assault into the early hours of Saturday.

The human rights organization reported the devastating news on social media platform X, stating that many villagers are still missing and dozens more are injured, lacking adequate medical care. “Many families were locked up and burnt inside their bedrooms,” the post added.

The violence highlights the ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, a volatile area where the predominantly Muslim North meets the largely Christian South. Competition for land between herders and farmers, driven by overlapping ethnic and religious divisions, has fueled recurring conflicts.

Last month, at least 42 people were killed in suspected herder attacks in the Gwer West district of Benue state. Research firm SBM Intelligence estimates that these clashes have claimed over 500 lives and displaced 2.2 million people since 2019.

The international community is urged to address the root causes of the conflict and provide humanitarian aid to the affected communities.

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