A violent attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the Otukpo-Nobi community of Benue state, Nigeria, where gunmen opened fire on people gathered after a funeral. Police confirmed on Monday that 8 individuals were killed in the incident, while five others sustained injuries.
State police spokesperson Udeme Edet stated that the attackers also set fire to thatched houses and a motorcycle. In response to the violence, authorities have deployed additional officers to the area. While the specific motive behind the assault remains unclear, Benue has a history of resource-based conflicts between herders and farmers, including a significant incident last year in the Yelewata community that resulted in 150 deaths.
Discrepancies in the death toll have emerged, as Amnesty International Nigeria reported that at least 10 people were killed. The organization noted that Nigerian police frequently provide more conservative casualty figures. Following the attack, local youth organized protests to express their frustration with the ongoing cycle of violence and abductions in the region, which they described as making life a hell for residents.
Amnesty International has called on the government to fulfill its primary responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives and property for citizens in the affected areas.
