The governor’s office sharply revised a previous toll of 17 Saturday. The number of dead could rise even further as search-and-rescue operations continue, a government spokesman said.
Police spokesperson Anene Sewuese Catherine said in a statement on Friday that “a large number of suspected militia had invaded” a region of Benue State overnight. The attack came amid a resurgence of deadly clashes between herders and farmers, a conflict that has killed hundreds over recent years.
Security forces were deployed and as the assailants “were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers” killing five farmers in Benue’s Ukum area.
Police said a second attack took place in Logo, about 70km from the area of the first incident.
“Unfortunately an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out” in a neighbouring locality, where 12 people were killed before police arrived, the police spokesperson said.
keyword Herder-farmer# clashes #iNigeria #kill at least 56#attack#police#attack
