Over 2,600 Killed In Armed Attacks On Benue Communities, Amnesty International Reveals

Over 2,600 people, mostly women and children, were killed in attacks on 50 communities in Benue between January 2023 and February 2024, an Amnesty International report has revealed.

During a photo exhibition and news conference held on Wednesday in Makurdi, Amnesty International's Program Director Barbara Magaji noted that 18 out of Benue State's 23 local government areas were facing ongoing security threats from armed assailants.

"These attacks are significantly affecting food security and livelihoods because the affected communities are farmers, and displacement makes them unable to carry out any farming activity," Magaji said, Premium Times reported.

"These displacements are having significant and adverse effects on the right to livelihoods, and depriving thousands of children of the right to education and development."

The program director further said that as of March 2023, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and host communities accommodated a total of 4,89,245 IDPs.

Magaji also said she was informed by the state's Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Board that armed bandits had destroyed at least 55 schools in Benue or forced them to close.

This has resulted in hundreds of children being unable to attend school. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of Nigerian authorities stopping the attacks in Benue to protect lives.

She insisted that governments at every level should investigate these attacks thoroughly and ensure that victims and their families receive justice.

"Nigerian authorities must ensure that suspected perpetrators of human rights abuses are brought to justice through fair trial. Nigerian authorities must investigate the security lapses that enabled gunmen to carry out attacks and get away with it," she said.

"People who are displaced must be provided with adequate humanitarian support, standard of living and children's education must be continued."

The Commanding Officer of the 72 Special Forces Battalion, R.B. Kefas, who was represented by Danjuma Abba during the event, mentioned that they had successfully reduced criminal activities in all volatile areas. He stressed that their efforts would continue.

Meanwhile, the state's Commissioner of Police Steve Yabanet, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Okon Asuquo, mentioned that the police have been working tirelessly to reduce crime in the state.