Abuja, Apr 18 (V7N)- At least 17 people have been killed in fresh attacks by suspected militia gunmen in Benue State, located in central Nigeria, according to police reports released on Friday.

Anne Sewes Catherine, spokesperson for the Benue State Police, said in an official statement that a “large number of suspected militiamen” launched an overnight assault on communities in the region.

In the first attack, which took place in the early hours of the morning, gunmen opened fire on local farmers, killing at least five people before security forces could intervene.

A simultaneous assault in a neighbouring local government area left another 12 civilians dead, bringing the total death toll to 17. Police said that by the time they arrived, the attackers had already fled.

Deadly conflicts between herders and farmers over land access and usage have become increasingly frequent in central Nigeria. These tensions are often fueled by ethnic, religious, and economic factors, and have escalated into organized militia violence in recent years.

This latest violence follows two separate attacks in the north-central Plateau State over the past two weeks that claimed more than 100 lives.

Authorities have deployed additional forces in affected regions, but the escalating violence has raised concerns over security and governance ahead of future elections.

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