45 villagers killed by herdsmen in Benue

Fulani herdsmen

File Photo: Some Fulani Herdsmen on a Nigerian road

File Photo: Some Fulani Herdsmen on a Nigerian road
File Photo: Some Fulani Herdsmen on a Nigerian road

At least 45 villagers were killed in a dawn raid Sunday by suspected herdsmen in Nigeria’s central Benue state, a police spokesman and a legislator said.

“I confirm that 45 people, including women and children, were killed this morning in an attack on Egba village… of Benue state by suspected herdsmen,” state police spokesman Austin Ezeani, told AFP.

“Several others were injured in the gun and machete attack,” he also said.

A Benue state parliamentarian from the area, Audu Sule, gave a death toll of about 50 from the attack.

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“Around 50 people were killed in Egba village in my constituency in an early morning attack. The gunmen came in large numbers, all armed with AK47 rifles,” he told AFP.

He also said women and children were among those killed.

Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks and reprisal attacks between farmers and ethnic Fulani herdsmen in the past few years in the state.

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