Nigeria: Suspected herdsmen kill 15 people in Benue state April 24

Event

Suspected herdsmen shot and killed 15 people in Benue state early on Tuesday, April 24 (local time). The attack reportedly took place at a church in Ayar-Mbalom (Gwer East local government area); according to local officials, the gunmen also set some 50 houses ablaze and looted buildings in the community. Additional herdsmen attacks on communities in Benue state and elsewhere in Nigeria's Middle Belt region are possible in the coming weeks.

Context

Intercommunal clashes are common in Nigeria. Central Nigeria has become the scene of almost daily clashes between farmers and the largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently reported that murder rates linked to ethnic violence in Nigeria are higher than those related to terrorism, also a major security concern in the country.

Advice

Individuals in central Nigeria are advised to remain vigilant and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.