Over 70 killed in attacks by suspected herders in central Nigeria

ABUJA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 70 people were killed in a weekend attack by suspected herders who swooped on a community in Nigeria's central state of Benue, several sources said on Sunday.

Udeme Edet, spokesperson for the police in Benue, said in a statement that the attack occurred in Yelwata, a town in the Guma local government area, between late Friday and the early hours of Saturday, but he did not state a casualty figure.

"It is with great sadness that we report that some individuals lost their lives and others sustained injuries," Edet said, noting that during the invasion, security operatives engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange of gunfire, leading to the killing of some of the herders.

According to a report by the official News Agency of Nigeria, over 70 corpses had already been recovered by volunteers during a search and rescue operation. The report said some victims were burned beyond recognition.

One survivor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua by telephone that at least 22 more bodies were recovered Sunday morning, with the casualty figure likely to increase during the ongoing search.

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue State, said in a statement on Monday that a combined team of tactical and response squads has started arriving in the state to address the ongoing security challenge and persistent attacks.

"I acknowledge and share in the pains and grief caused by these attacks on the community by criminal elements suspected to be armed herdsmen. The state's joint operations units are also being strengthened, and the government will not relent in its utmost commitment to defending the lives and properties of all residents," he said.

Benue State, located in Nigeria's central region between the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south, has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years.

The motive behind the latest attacks remains unclear. Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. Enditem