BY Barnabas Augustine
A brutal attack on a village in Nigeria’s Benue State has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, with scores more injured.
The carnage unfolded in the Ayati community within Ukum Local Government Area during a night-time raid, according to the state’s Information Commissioner, Mathew Abo. Emergency services are currently scouring the surrounding area for additional casualties.
While the exact circumstances of the attack remain unclear, initial reports suggest a violent clash between rival factions. The Commissioner claimed the perpetrators were local bandits locked in a power struggle, with roots in a longstanding feud between the Ayati and Tine-Nune communities.
A local resident, who requested anonymity, offered a different perspective. They alleged the violence erupted from a dispute over grazing rights, with armed herders colluding with bandits to carry out the massacre.
The state police command has confirmed the incident and is investigating the matter.