NEW YORK, USA — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the recent killings in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, calling for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice.
According to multiple reports, dozens of civilians were killed in their sleep in Yelewata village, Guma Local Government Area, during a weekend attack widely attributed to armed herders.
The massacre also displaced scores of residents, adding to the humanitarian strain already affecting the region.
“We’re monitoring the situation,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, during a press briefing.
“The Secretary-General condemns the killing of innocent civilians, including in Nigeria, and we hope that those responsible for this violence will be found and apprehended.”
The UN’s condemnation adds international pressure on Nigerian authorities to act decisively in a region where ethnic and resource-based conflicts have persisted for years.
In response to the latest violence, President Bola Tinubu issued a statement denouncing the killings and urging all community members and leaders to foster peace and reconciliation.
“We must embrace peace, love, and mutual understanding,” Tinubu said.
He also extended condolences to the families of the victims and those affected by the conflict. “The President expresses heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and all who have suffered loss in this senseless violence,” a statement from the Presidency said.
The trip comes amid increasing domestic and international concern over the growing number of attacks on rural communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where longstanding tensions between herders and farmers have escalated into widespread insecurity.
Last year, the United Nations estimated that over 300,000 people had been displaced in Benue State due to violence and banditry.
