Amnesty International, has decried the ceaseless armed herdsmen attacks in Benue state lamenting that between January 2023 and February 2024, over 2,600 persons, mostly children and women were murdered in over 50 communities.
The Program Manager of AI Nigeria, Barbara Magaji raised the concern Wednesday in Makurdi during the presentation of the research findings on the attacks in Benue state.
Speaking further, Magaji pointed out that the incursions left hundreds displaced, some wounded, raped and others kidnapped.
According to her, “50 rural communities in the state recorded at least 135 attacks leading to the deaths of over 2,600 people many of whom are women and children. This has left hundreds displaced, wounded, raped and others kidnapped.”
According to her, “Benue state has 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of which 18 have been affected by insecurity and face continuous attacks by armed attackers.
“These attacks are significantly affecting food security and livelihood, because the affected communities are farmers and displacement make them unable to carry out any farming activity.”
She stated that the incursions had also led to the destruction of over 55 schools across the state leaving hundreds of children out of school.
The Program Manager called on the Federal Government to put an end to the attacks in the state as well as conduct impartial investigation into the carnage and ensure justice for the victims, survivors and their families.
